Musings on Simplifying and Anxiety

A couple of weeks ago on a crisp Friday evening in September my partner and I, with some neighbors, headed to a talk by Bea Johnson the Zero Waste home rock-star. 

The room we entered held around 200 people. Not every seat was occupied, even though it had sold out. I could hear laughter and chatting as I sat quietly, in the hard backed chair, taking it all in. The bright colored jackets and scarves worn as Fall arrives in Bend. The families and the elders, a lovely mix of ages having showed up.

Bea shares her family's journey from previously owning a 3000 sq foot home filled with stuff to the present, where their garbage output is down to one mason jar a year. 

Yup you heard that right. One mason jar.

The first R in her five R’s is refuse. Refuse to purchase, take, use etc.

She’s an activist by many definitions, mine being-acting on behalf of something you care deeply about. It’s apparent, as I listened to her, how much she cares about a future for our planet and about the quality of life for herself and her family. She holds a both/and, me and we, independent and interdependent world view. My kind of gal.  

She is giving to the future by taking less stuff and in the meantime making an income speaking, writing and encouraging many of us to take a look at how much garbage we put out by the way we live.

And while I have never thought of myself as a big consumer she challenged me to dig deeper.

I was captivated by her passion, her humor, her commitment, her French accent, and the slide that she shared about owning 15 items of clothing only (that’s all she has in her closet!). I felt teary and hopeful at the same time. It was like sitting with an old friend.

I don’t know about you, but for me as bad news keeps tumbling out about the climate crisis I feel a low hum of anxiety building. And the mixed messages like this--what we do as individuals doesn’t matter, it’s really the big corporations that need to stop-- creates a sense of dis-empowerment. Bea brought me back to what I know in my heart, body, and mind. 

That what I do, or don’t do can and does make a difference. Where, how, why, when, and who I give my money, and my time, does matters.

And of course we need systemic change, political and corporate policies that support the planet and the people. It’s not either/or it’s both/and.

I also recently live-streamed a one day conference hosted at Spirit Rock in California about Dharma and the Climate Crisis. My heroine Joanna Macy, who is 90 years old now, led a couple of meaningful processes! What an amazing human being she is.
And someone in the line-up that day mentioned this quote“Action absorbs Anxiety” (credited to Angela Arriens I believe). Love it. I can use all the help I can get.

This conference combined with Bea’s message reset my nervous system. 
I can act and acknowledge my actions to absorb the underlying anxiety that lives deep in my belly about the future of this beautiful blue planet and everything alive on it.

Since her talk I’ve made sure all my bills arrive via email, I had let a couple slip. 

And I am working on getting rid of all my junk mail. 
And I am remembering my glass jars and cloth bags or I make due without that item until next time.  
I am buying in bulk first and reviewing what I can get in Portland that I can’t get here so I can stock up next time I drive up and over the pass. 
I am reflecting on what I am willing to live without to give to the future in a more nuanced and grounded way. 
I have been buying second hand clothing for eons and now will not let something new (to me) into my closet unless I let something old out. I will buy natural fibers so that when they wear out they make better rags for cleaning. 

And as many of you already know I love questions. Ones that ask us to think, feel, sense and imagine. Se here are a couple for you to ponder if you’d like---

What could you take less of, to give to a future beyond your lifetime? (play with sensing, imagining, feeling your way)
How do each of us learn and practice caring beyond what we might benefit from?

And more specifically--Are there small steps you want to take? Are their things you are already doing you want to acknowledge and celebrate? Can you do that right now?

Here’s her blog if you are interested. If you’d rather give a listen here’s a youtube talk  she did.

And a place to get really cool lower impact toilet paper 

And an article about getting rid of junk mail

Thank you for reading. See below for what's coming up!

We appreciate you!!
Love,
Carol

P.S. I think she may have motivated a big chunk of the audience when she shared her families cost of living went down 40% going zero waste! That sure inspired me.
P.S.S. Saturday October 26th come join us for a free Stoke Your Woke session on Cultural Norms at the Bend East-side Library in Bend 3 pm-4:30 pm. More information HERE or view our upcoming EVENTS page

P.S.S.S. We received such great feedback after our June afternoon retreat on Belonging we are hosting a four hour afternoon retreat Money:Self and World on Saturday November 16th from 1 pm-5 pm at the Hive click HERE for details. Space is limited to 10 participants so register early!