Simple Holiday Decorating

I like to keep colors steam-lined and to a minimum when decorating because too many details takes away from the items, and it appears tacky or kitschy. I am a creature of habit, and generally decorate in blue and silver with a few splashes of red, or with just red and silver, or green and silver with a few splashes of red. I reuse the decorations usually, but in different arrangement as they would allow. My apartment is too small to have a Christmas tree, so I just decorate my living room windows as you see in the picture and add an arrangement of poinsettias or burgundy or dark red roses to the kitchen table. My kitchen appliances are either red or black, so they add the red color for the season also. :)

I made the bows from fabric gift ribbons, and arranged small Christmas tree ornaments to jazz up the silver bells. I also added small Christmas tree ornaments to a plain wreath to add some color to it. They were all strategically taped to the wall as my landlord says I will loose my security if I make holes on the wall.

My husband thinks I'm funny because I decorate for Christmas, though we are not Christian, but I enjoy decorating, & also like the spirit of the season because people generally seem a bit kinder & more considerate. Plus, I am accepting of religions & beliefs as long as people are not trying to convert me or condemn me because I am not of their faith.

I originally had the decoration below, but my husband said it looks like a smiley face. lol. So, I took it down, and replaced with the first image. I actually ended up liking the even simpler look above because it looks more elegant and minimalist.

Simple Living Arrangements

Simple Living Arrangements

One of the most peaceful and inspiring things for me to look at is a minimalist home interior. It can be modern or in the Japanese style. It really makes you appreciate the architecture of the place, and the space. It's funny how we try to fill all the empty spaces in our homes. I used to do that a lot because I do love art and aesthetic things, and find beauty even in mundane things. However, when we have so much in our home, it takes attention away from the things. There is too much, and I find it overwhelming to look at. Additionally, no matter how organized we are, with so many items, we are bound to misplace things or loose track of them. I am far from having one of the homes like in the picture below, but I have made a conscious effort to discard things that are broken or cannot be fixed. I used to hold on to knick knacks for creative projects, such as extra buttons because I felt badly to throw them out, and there are not many places to donate them to. However, I found myself with hundreds of buttons, zippers and ribbons. lol. So, I had to make a decision to toss it. I didn't see much impact in my environment from getting rid of these things that didn't take much space, but it got me used to letting go of things that I don't use just, that I kept because I didn't have somewhere to to donate them to. Coincidentally, that is a problem a lot of hoarders have. I am not saying that I am a hoarder, but I do notice that my mom and my dear aunt who raised me tended to be collectors. Perhaps I learned this collecting as well, and some even say that it may be genetic. Grandma on my mom's side loves knick knacks and collecting things too, and mom always talks about not throwing away or wasting things because you may need them and can use them for something else. In any case, since I have this natural habit of keeping little things of late since I started having my own apartment (I didn't do so as a teen or in college), I make a conscious effort to give knick knacks away right away or toss. It is the collecting of a few buttons here or there, a book here or there, etc. that leads to clutter and takes us away from a simpler home. I keep looking at minimalist and zen like home for inspiration to reduce even more.

I gear alot to the philosophy of eastern traditions because it tends to advocate a simple life. I was watching a clip of a monk named Ching Mai, and she spoke about living a simple life. She said that she could ask her followers to build her a house, but she preferred to live in a tent because it is so easy to move around, there is little cleaning needed -which I love , and I want to add, it deters you from accumulating alot of stuff. While the idea sounds intriguing and appealing, I am not about to start living in a tent in the middle of NYC at the moment. However, I would like to be in that mindset, that my home is part of nature, that nature owns it, and I am just a tenant in it, rather than I own it; ultimately, that I am just passing through.

There is an attachment that comes with claiming ownership of things. When we buy things  or pay for things, we do feel that sense of ownership, and since I pay a pretty penny for renting my apartment due to crazy NY rent prices, I have been rationalizing that I just feel more grounded in the apartment. Inside, I always feel like I am just passing through, no matter where I have lived. When I was younger, I thought it was bad to feel like such a nomad because it just wasn’t the norm I see around me, with everyone buying houses beyond their means, and filling their homes with fancy gadgets. It is human to want to preserve certain things that we enjoy, but we sometimes become misguided on what we really need. Swami Sivananda said to have plain living and high thinking. He said to “reduce your wants. If you have four shirts, reduce the number to three or two. Lead a happy, contented life. Think of those who do not possess even one-tenth of what you have. “

I think that seeing our home as something that we enjoy, but doesn’t fully belong to us, but the universe is a good way of keeping in perspective what is really imporatant to us. It does make you feel a little uncomfortable at first because as humans, we seek a sense of security. In our industrialised society, we seek that sense of security in the objects we own, but can also lead to our demise because we can loose touch of what is really important.  I have been thinking of those who have less than I have as Swami Sivananda suggests, not only of those in third world countries, but also of the unfortunate victims of natural disasters, such as Katrina, China, etc. and even those of house fires. Should a situation occur where you were to loose most of your possessions, what few items would you really want to preserve that is invaluable to you? What things will you need to survive for a year?


Thinking about this, I realize that I wouldn’t need half of my clothing. I don’t need most of the scraps of clothing that I hold onto to mend items or alter clothing. As much as I love my library and am am attached to it more than anything I own, there were probably 50 books out of the 125 that I had that I really would want to preserve, so now I have about 50 books, and I still want to reduce it more. I am in the process of trying to obtain digital versions, but some are not available, and some are too costly.

I know it is extreme to just keep the things you would want preserved if there is a fire because we do want to feel comfortable in our homes, but I think just a few items beyond those we want to preserve are needed for comfort.

Also, for those who are renting, remember unless you have renter's insurance, which can be pricey and which I do not have, if something occurs to your building, the landlord is insured for his home, but you are not. Therefore, why store up your home with too much things that you can easily loose. The tragedy in Haiti, and Japan as well as the earthquake in China and Tsunami in Asia and Hurricane Katrina makes me reflect on this even more deeply. I think it is better to share what you have with charities rather than let it sit and collect dust, or serve as a hollow trophy of the accomplishments of your life or image that you want to present to the world. Your thoughts? 

Downshifting: Enjoy Life on a Budget

I found this great article on downshifting that really struck a chord with me. I really answered questions I wondered about downshifiting, such as whether it is selfish to want to live like this, etc. (BTW, the answer to the above question is no because when you are living in alignment with your values, you are happy and will be an example of joy to other.)
I would also like to add that a great way to start downshifiting is:

1. Only spend money on necessities, such as food and the bills. Clothes do not count because I am sure that you have enough clothes to last you. Really, I have seen co-workers with 7 shirts that they wear over and over, and I think nothing of it, and others won’t either unless they are superficial. If they are, their opinions are hollow, and you do not want to care about them anyway. Also, there are people in many poor countries that have 3-4 outfits to their name, and they exist happily and productively. While you do not have to go to such an extreme, I know that I am definitely paring down ruthlessly. Avoid stores or areas where you are prone to shop, at least until you get a hang of resisting them.

2. Eliminate all items that have no value to your present and future endeavors or life goals. For me, I have already put my fashion jewelry, office supplies (pens, staplers, hole punchers, pins, stationary), a few books, ALL synthetic clothing (having only natural fabrics remind me of my desire to live a green lifestyle) and clothing I have not worn in a year, shoes, in a donation bag. In the garbage – all makeup (except 3 eyeliners, 1 mascara, 1 concealer, 2 lipglosses, 1 lipstick), all magazine clippings except for a few articles and a few recipes.

3. Buy small loads of grocery and consume everything that you buy in a week or two week span. Buying less means less is wasted and you have less to carry home or store. You will also make healthier choices if you limit yourself to a few grocery items weekly except for staples such as rice or pasta. For instance, I buy a pound of pork, a pound of chicken, 2 veggies, 2 snacks (Hubby eats meat. I eat mostly vegetarian, but eat seafood 2-3 times a week as recommended by my doctor). I keep pasta or rice as a staple in the house because they go with everything.

4. Cook at home. Eat out no more that once every two weeks or once a week. Cooking at home can be time consuming, so I cook a large pot once every other day. For instance, I do a pot or curry and rice, or pasta, or an Asian pork dish (for hubby) and veggies. I don’t know a whole lot of dishes, but the ones I do are excellent. If you are not a cook, start with a few dishes and keep trying until you perfect them. Easy dishes to start with are pasta or omelettes. When I am really hungry, and don’t want to spend alot on food, I will also eat cereal or oatmeal. Beware of this though because it will get boring if you eat it too much, and your tastebuds will scream for more flavor.

5. Limit contact with friends with expensive habits. An old friend of mine always likes to go to very expensive restaurants. She is very image conscious, so I think sometimes it is to say she has eaten there. She also knows some good food places though. I limit eating with her to once a month because of course, we go to a cafe afterwards, which is pricey also. I have told her that I am unemployed and on a budget, but when she was not making alot of money, she spent alot and incurred debt, so I don’t think she understands being thrifty. I think from now on, I will eat before I see her, and just join her for desert. She also likes to shop, so to not be tempted, I limit our meetings now to 2 hours so there is not time for her to pull me into tagging along to shop.

6. Save on bills (and help the environment) by turning off lights and electronic during the day. Unplug appliances when not in use. I usually only keep my computer plugged in during the day, and turn it off at night when I am not using it or when I go out.

7. Look for cheap or free community events. You can google it. I have found a few symphonies and movies in the park in NY. They can get crowded, and that is not always my thing, so I also go to museums that have a small suggested donation or cheaper plays and readings.

Step 1 to A Simpler Life - Simplify Your Interests & Thoughts

No, I don't mean don't think deep thoughts, but rather be selective about what you give your attention to as well as the necessity of having a clear vision of what a simple life means to you.

Decluttering my magazine collection has given me a very important realization. It is that to live a minimalist life externally, we need to live a minimalist life internally as well.

Being an ardent bibliophile, who hates to throw away anything with words, save for superficial magazines, it was quite a feat to sort through about 70 magazines. I have canceled many of my magazine publications that I am not really interested in, but I was still left with the problem of a large, accumulated pile. Since there are so many magazines that have accumulated, that also used so many trees and because I like to read, I felt compelled to read all the articles. Yet this is quite impossible, and not useful as I have tons of books that I would also like to read that would actually add value to my life. So, I made a decision to not start reading any articles that did not jive with my interests.

This was difficult for me because I feel that we always need to keep our interests wide to have a well rounded life. I have realized that many interests may not be always a good thing though because there is such a thing as too many interests. I liken it to learning a language – if we try to learn too many languages at once, we will never get good at any of them. So I had to really think about the things that inspire me or push me forward, that I am totally engrossed in, and these are my passions and true interests. For me, I realize that my interests are: minimalist/green living, literature, biographies on writers and sages, spirituality, natural food (though I do eat seafood), archeology, psychology, and of course, improving myself internally and in my job.

Compiling my interest list made me realize that as much as I have geared over to a simpler life, I failed to streamline my internal life (thoughts, interests), which is absolutely essential to live a minimalist life because it becomes your locus of control. As I look back, I realize that having this locus of control keeps me from accumulating unnecessary things, such as clothing, since although I like to look nice, trends are not in my core interest. Isolating your core interests can help you to live a minimalist/simple because when you declutter and minimize your possessions, you can make the decisions to keep things that only pertain to your interests and that add value to your life.

Determine what Fullfills you for a Simple / Minimalist Life

I hope it is not too forward of me to say that everyone is looking for happiness as their goal in life. We try to find it through different avenues, but I have found that the more avenues I seek at once, the more complicated and elusive happiness becomes. I look back at my happiest times in life, save for my childhood, and realize that my happiest times was when I lived my life simply. It seems ironic because consumerism tells us that we need more and more things daily. Yet, during that time, my attention was focused on a few things that brought me great joy and peace. Namely, they were, waking up early in the morning to do yoga exercises and light meditation, writing a little daily, reading a little daily (on-line or books) and cooking wholesome, healthy food (vegetarian and seafood based). Of course, I also spend a little time with friends and loved ones, but we must first look for happiness within. Those are my particular affinities. Yours might be different. Yet, self discovery is the key.

Reflecting to Simpler Times in The Past
Look back and note times when you were truly happy. Try to not to associate these times with people at first, even though there are many who are happiest giving to others or spending time with others. It is important to look within first.

Find the Things that Drive You in Life
If this becomes difficult, try to make a list in your life of an arbitrary number personal things that you can’t live without that are not necessities. Make sure it is not too large of a number. An easy way to choose could be your birthday or simply keep it under 50 to make it easier. Additional items can be listed under a category called “optional”. Imagine that you are on a deserted Island, or that you are going on a trip for 3 months and are only allowed to carry a tiny knapsack for these items. The items should not be simple necessities, such as food and clothing, although those with excessive clothing like I used to have will need to pare down their clothes on another list (I will follow with an article on that subject soon). The items should be things that you need to thrive on and feel alive, and that you don’t have to second guess for a moment. For instance, my computer and poetry book were automatic in my list.

Streamline to Your Essential Joys
After you have made the list, look at the 5 or 10 items, and try to figure out why those items are must haves for you. This may be an easy process or some may be more elusive. For instance, and easy one would be someone who would bring musical instrument. Obviously, creating and playing music is very important to this person, and makes them happy. If someone brings cds, this might be a little harder. It may be that certain music energizes the person, or relaxes them. In this case, having energy or relaxing may be important to that person. Therefore, the object will not be as important as the effect produced. If you need assistance figuring out the meaning behind different things, I would gladly help you elicit them if you ask me.

Use Lists to Stay Focused on your Simpler Path

When you come to this analysis, write it down and keep it on your refrigerator or mirror, or anywhere that it is visible daily. The reason for this is to remind yourself daily or periodically what is important to you and makes you happy. It can also serve to not engage in behavior that you regret later. For instance, if you compulsively shop or go drinking, bring the list with you in your wallet. Look at it when the compulsive thought or urge occurs. Then take a deep breath and count to 10, then count backwards from 10, clearing your thoughts. Do something else afterwards that you enjoy, such get a glass of water or other healthy beverage that you like. Don’t wrestle with the thought too much, but let it go as if it is a bee passing by. If you stay still and not pay attention to it, it will not bite. This is a common method used in meditation and yoga that is quite effective in clearing thoughts, and is just as effective in clearing desires. It will be take a little practice, but you can do it.

SHED your way to a simpler life

I stumbled across the acronym SHED on this Time’s article. SHED is a great motto to start and keep in your decluttering process and in becoming a minimalist and remaining one. It means: “separate the treasures, heave the trash, embrace your identity from within and drive yourself forward.”

Simple Wardrobe Shopping Rules

The Story of Stuff is a short video that really drives home the impact that our spur of the moment decisions and desires may make on the world. The truth is that we often shop for the thrill of the moment, and don't think of the origin or end life of the products that we purchase.

As advised in the video, I decided that I would not purchase a lot of new stuff, namely clothing and shoes, so I will use the money and time spend on those items on things more pertinent to my to my life goals, like books that I plan on reading and rereading. This also reduces the carbon footprint and energy and emissions caused to produce new items, and adds to items going to the landfill later. Even with books, on topics that I am just curious about, I am just going to borrow from the library because let’s face it, I live in New York in a studio and can’t store all those books here.   


SHOPPING RULES FOR THOSE DESIRING A SIMPLER, SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE

1. Don’t buy things just because they are on sale. Buy them because you need them. You do not need them if you have 3 of the same items already in your closet.

2. Only buy items that fit correctly and are you size. The time or money that you spend to mend these items could be spent doing more productive things. I have bought a lot of clothing that was a size larger because I can sew and alter them. Recently, though, my sewing machine broke, and I have had to mend them by hand. I realized that half of my clothing do not fit me, and now I have to mend them. I would not have bought so many articles of clothing that were not my size if I did not have a sewing machine. By buying only clothes that fit, I will end up buying less.

3. Do not follow trends, and buy clothes based on what’s new in fashion or in the stores. Only buy clothes that look well on you. Make sure you try each article of clothing (save for underwear – wash first) to make sure it fits and flatters your body type. By doing this, you will not have to worry about what you are
going to wear and what looks good on you in the morning, because you will like every item in your closet. This will also eliminate the amount of clothing that you take into your home.

4. Group or list your current clothing into categories so that you can exactly what you need and what you have enough of. The 4 major categories are work, casual, home/lounge and formal. You will need more work clothes than casual, more causual than formal and more formal than lounge. Restrict to three or even two categories if you can. Some items can serve more than one category. For instance, I sometimes wear my work shirts with jeans or a causal mini skirt. I also wear my sweaters for work and casual in the winter.

5. Limit the items in each category according to your need and use. Keeping track on your items on a written list or photo list (take pictures and print out or store in your computer) helps ensure that you keep it to that amount. I try not to go over my limits. When I do, I find something that I do not love or use, and donate it.


6. For every item that you bring into your home, donate one of the same category that you have in your closet.
es If you do not have any clothes of a certain category, such as if you are a student that needs to get work clothes for their first job, think about throwing an item out for a category that you may not use much anymore, such as that old hoodie that you wore to class (lounge category). 

7. Don’t buy or keep items that you think will fit you someday – i.e. if you loose or gain weight. If you loose weight, and can alter your own items without taking too much time or know somewhere you can alter them cheaply, do so. If you gain weight and keep it on for over 1 year, and have spent some time trying to loose it, you may need to be a little realistic and realize that you will not fit into the clothing anytime soon. What is the use of it storing up in your closet and making you feel bad when you see it, when you can donate it. The same goes for those who have tried to gain weight for over a year. It maybe time to donate the clothes and buy clothes that fit in a thrift store if you are on a budget or in an outlet.

8. Don’t feel compelled to shop just because your friends are shopping. We are social beings and are affected by the actions and activities around us. If you feel that you will be tempted to shop, or will become influence by consumerism, make sure you prepare yourself mentally before you go out with these friends by thinking about simplicity, sustainability and your  path.

Living Out of A Backpack

My amazing friend just came back from traveling to South East Asia for almost 3 months. She lived out of a backpack, and carried less than 20 items, a few of which she discarded along the way, such as her hiking boots.

It made me think about a post I read at another site. I have been downshifting my life and trying to eliminate having too many material possessions in my life because I feel that it takes me away from what is really important to me. It has not been easy deciding what to donate or throw out, especially because I regretted throwing away a few things. These things I threw away because of the categories I made for them. Richard Kuo’s challenge in his blogpost “If you only had a backpack’s worth of stuff to take with you…or a trunk, or a car’s worth…what would you take?” really got me thinking, and has given me a clearer idea in how to decide what else to throw out.

In any case, my friend said, she probably would not live out of a backpack now that she is back home. However, I told her I was amazed at her journey, and told her that the important thing is that she knows that it's nice to have things, but freeing to know you don't need much to survive and experience life.

On that note, thinking of living out of a backpack gave me some more insight in deciding why I keep things. For instance, in terms of clothing, perhaps thinking about weight, "wrinkle-ability", clothing that can be hand-washed and dry easily, warmth or coolness, clothing that match each other easily, that are flexible as casual wear as well as more formal wear are more important than colors, styles, etc. If you think about it, this is how our human ancestors thought about clothing, except for those for ritual and celebrations. This idea of clothes as being trendy is a fairly new, and misleading concept of the functionality and true purpose and advent of clothing.

Vegetarianism & Simple / Minimalist Living

Homemade fried rice with cabbage, eggs & Tofurkey

There are many reasons to go vegetarian. One reason is that it's simpler. I'm not a strict vegetarian, though I used to be several years ago. I now eat fish & seafood on occasion due to anemia. Years ago, however, after being a strict vegetarian, I reverted to eating also chicken and pork due to lack of discipline & social acceptance. It was not always easy or cheap to find tasty, healthy vegetarian dishes when out. Most restaurants would have just overpriced salads & unheathy carbs. At home, I cook 3 dishes on average at a time, but found it annoying to cook extra vegetarian dishes as well.

Yet recently, I discovered that the trick is to cook 2 vegetarian dishes and one meat dish for the hubby. When just cooking for myself, I cook/prepare quick dishes, like cheese ravioli (I eat dairy, eggs and once in a while I cheat with clams & mussels as they don't seem to suffer as more complex animals, though I probably will stop oneday) fruit & veggie salads with mozzarella, whole grain English muffins etc. Attached are photos of these for inspiration. As for eating out, I either eat before leaving home, carry a vegetarian snack or eat by myself at a vegetarian-friendly restaurant & meet with friends after dinner if the restaurant they're eating at doesn't have a healthy veggie often.

The only battle left is fending off pushiness & ill-founded, comments from some people that are not respectful of my life choices, such as you should try everythin, you don't know if you like it until you try, It's unhealthy and you won't be strong if you don't eat meat. No matter what reason I give them, they are still pushy. It is so rude because I rarely ever make comments about their or others choice to consume meat.

In any case, I do feel that you have to give a little more thought and plan at first until you get a hang of the vegetarian diet. Cooking vegetarian is healthier because left over, uncooked vegetables can be stored in the freezer for months and they retain nutrients. Meat spoils quickly, and there is always the risk of ecoli and other bacteria. Veggie dishes also cook quicker, although you have to consider preparation time.

Tasty vegetarian protein options
I have found that since I no longer eat meat and rarely eat seafood, I have felt tired at times due to lack of protein and B vitamins. In comes Whole Foods to save the day, as I discovered 2 very tasty veggie protein options: Gimme Lean "sausage"  and "ground beef" (tastes almost like the real thing) and Odwalla protein shakes (not grainy, except the original flavor). I also add nutritional yeast to my veggie dishes for extra protein and B vitamins. These three products cost less than $6 each.

Please post your simple recipes and suggestions, and how you feel that vegetarianism aids in your simpler lifestyle.

Voluntary Simplicity & Lifestyle: What would you do in your last days?

I have been thinking a lot lately about how living a simple life is not just about owning less, but also doing less. After all, the problem with owning many objects is that each object has energy and zap your energy because of the time it takes to maintain and care for those items. The same applies for when you involve yourself with too many activities. I am definitely for living a full life in which enjoys themselves and/or helps the world, and not just lull around the house. However, I think many of us, including myself, involve ourselves daily in activities that do not contribute to our overall life goals.

I know that after a long work week, we all need some activities to unwind, that do not occupy all of our mental faculties, but there must be limits also. Watching an interesting movie every now and then, or watching a program with your partner once or twice a week is fine. However, think of all the time wasted watching mindless television to kill time, time wasted window shopping, time wasted reading gossip or the like on the internet or in magazines, even time wasted talking repeatedly about topics that you are not particularly interested in or giving the same advice to someone over and over who does not really care.

Everyone has different interests, and that makes the world very interesting as well. However, I find that many of us, including myself, spend a lot of time on things that don’t really call to us and what we want to leave behind in life. I was thinking about my friend who passed away this year, and he valued people in his life, and always gave his time to bring friends together and spend time with them. Everyone who knew him remembers him as a kind person who always brought people together and would give his last dollar if a friend needed it. He also enjoyed activities like spending time with friends (dining, billiards, watching movies), cleaning and collecting kung fu figurines and movies. Before he got sick, he was into high end name brands of clothing and shoes. After he got sick, he still enjoyed the activities I mentioned above, but stopped buying name brand clothing and caring about image.

It makes me think, if we had just a year to live, what would we change in our lives? What would we buy? What would we eat? What would we get rid of in our life? What would we do that we always wanted to? What would we do daily to make our life enjoyable each day?

I know I would not waste money or energy buying clothing, shoes, or even certain books. I would not want to waste my time cleaning and organizing those things in my home. I would watch and read meaningful or substantive movies, plays and books. I would only wear clothes that were simple and easy to pull on in the morning without having to think about fashion or matching pieces. I would volunteer in the community or with children more. I would learn things daily that bring me closer to obtain a career that is more socially active. I would only keep things in my home that I could easily transport if I decide I want to pick up and move somewhere in short notice.

I am trying to think along these lines and do some of these things daily as I was in a rut for a few weeks deciding what to do next after being unemployed since the end of August. It’s a bit morbid to think about what we would do in our last days, but it is very poignant way to live to remember that each day is a gift. A gift that many who are in their last days wish they had. On our death bed, we will not miss or think about objects or useless activities nor regret not doing those things, but we will miss and remember the people in our lives and the activities that we found interesting and are passionate about.

Zenhabits has a great post those who have difficulty minimizing activities. Good luck and enjoy the day!

Daily Voluntary Simplicity - Practical Ideas

SKIN CARE – Use natural skin care products. It is better for the environment and your skin. Coincidentally, most natural products have fewer ingredients than other products. Look for those with the least ingredients and with no preservatives. If you don’t use face makeup (powder, foundation, concealer, blush, etc.), steaming your face with a soft wash cloth and boiling water should be sufficient. If you run out of natural products or can’t find them near your neighborhood, products for extremely sensitive skin, such as Cephatil or Eucerin, also have fewer ingredients.

HOUSE CLEANING – Baking soda and vinegar are miracle house cleaners, which were used before cleaners were mass marketed. You can use them to deodorize, clean stoves, countertops, tubs, sinks, etc. Check this site for recipes/idea. I use baking soda to clean pots and pans, and soak dishes in baking soda and minimal water to loosen grease and food, but I am looking for an alternative to liquid soap to wash dishes. Any ideas?

LAUNDRY/DRY CLEANING – For delicate materials, such as silk, cashmere and merino wool (which encompass half of my wardrobe due to my sensitive skin), you can just use clear, cheap shampoo, like Suave, White Rain or Tresemme to hand wash them in lukewarm water. This saves money on the cleaners and protects the environment because dry cleaning solvents are dangerous for the environment and also bad for your clothing because they break down fabrics. If you have a stain, try to treat it right away with a little hot water and undyed soap. Then you can just steam the fabric when you get home. Steaming is also a good alternative to dry cleaning if your aim is just to freshen your clothing after a wear of two until you are ready to wash it with gentle shampoo.

PERIODICALS – I have done away with all my magazine subscriptions, except for Yoga Journal and Men's Health (husband’s bathroom reading. lol. Sorry for being explicit). You can read most of the information on online versions of most newspapers and magazines. If you want premium content, most major newspapers and magazine offer online subscriptions now, but I advise not to complicate your life by doing so unless you need premium content for your job. Also, ask retailers to remove you from their mailing if you can so you don’t get catalogs and junk mail. When you do get catalogs or junk mail, recycle right away rather than letting them pile up. Don’t bother looking through them to browse unless there was something you were looking for previously. 

BOOKS – I love the tactileness of books, but have only purchased a few books this entire year as I have a Kindle. This saves so much time and space, and it looks so much like a book that the first few weeks of using it, I would reach for the edge as if turning a page. It is a little pricey, though cheaper than the Kindle, even though it was the first innovator of EBook technology. It is worth the price though in convenience and portability for your back, and think of how much you would save if you had to move all those books. Not to mention that it saves trees. All the classics are available in eBook format, and many current books are being produced as in eBook format (pdf) also. You can download classics, where copyrights have been expired, for free from Project Gutenberg and read in pdf format on the reader. 

These days, I only buy regular books if I really need them and cannot find it in a store. I also encourage supporting smaller booksellers when possible. I also buy used books and leave books that I've read already in cafe's and in the train for those who may be interested. I tried to donate books to the library, but many have been turned away as the libraries are over stacked in NY. I then recycled many, but felt guilty especially about discarding those that I had not read or completed. It's sounds strange, but I felt that not only was money wasted, but moreso all that knowledge. So for those in decent condition, I leave them for others to enjoy the knowledge, even though I did not have the time or space to do so. Somehow, it makes me feel less guilty about throwing away knowledge. lol   

HOUSEKEEPING – Housecleaning takes up a lot of time if you have a lot of possessions, so the first thing that I recommend is clear out anything you have not used in the past year. This includes kitchen gadgets, office supplies, magazines, old video games and toys if you have children, etc., most of which can be donated to thrift stores. I also recommend getting rid of excess bins and containers because although they are marketed to keep clutter under control, they also keep you unaware of all the things that you actually own. The plastic in bins are also bad for the environment. I keep all kitchen items in accessible cupboards so they can be used regularly rather than stored somewhere. For two people who don’t usually entertain more than 4 people at a time, 6 forks, 6 knives, 6 spoons, 6 plates, 6 bowls and 6 glasses are sufficient. A lot of people have way too many house wares that they rarely or never use. We used to have only 2 of each, but since we like to have a few friends over instead of spending a lot of money dining out all the time, we bought a few more items, but not more than needed.

CLOTHING – I have said a lot about minimizing clothes in my other posts, since as a female that was my biggest area I had to minimize when I started this journey. I have to emphasize that I do not recommend storing clothes, shoes or coats where you cannot see them because you will not be aware of how much you actually have. I keep all my clothes hung up and shoes on wood shelves and in wood baskets. At the end of the season, I wash or steam all my clothing and put them in clear, reusable suit bags. I hate using plastic, but this makes it easier to see the items that I have in the event that I need an off season item and also to keep inventory of all that I have. Shoes that I am currently using go on a wood shelf near the door, and those not in use are in wooden baskets in the bottom of my closet.

FOOD – I don't eat meat, but I am not a strict vegetarian because I do occasionally eat fish, shrimp and clams, especially when I am on the go and there are no nutritious or affordable veggie options. However, I try to limit this to as little as possible because I try to be conscious of the environmental impact of even over-consumption of seafood. I used to be a strict vegetarian, but as I am anemic, I got very sick, and my doctor recommended that I eat a little more protein. So I eat fish and seafood at maximum 2 to 3 times a week. That said, I try to eat simple, vegetarian food most of the time. It is better for the environment because of all the emissions and food required to maintain the food industry and for your health as studies have shown that communities that do not eat meat live longer. See the Cornell China Study, and the Oprah’s episode on centenarian (person who is at least 100 years old) populations around the world.

I walk with vegetarian snacks, like Kashi cereal, dried fruits, etc., so if I am hungry and cannot find a vegetarian friendly menu or if it is too expensive such as in New York, I have sustenance to hold me out until I get home.  I do my best not to eat chocolate, processed food or excess sugar, though I do have a fruit filled cookie or make flan or other desserts. I try to make deserts at home because there are no or less preservatives and less sugar than store bought items.

Some Clutter Tips

Better Homes and Garden ran this short article with tips to control clutter that I found very useful.

Simple Wardrobe - Affordable Organic Clothing

I desire to have a more streamlined life, where I can focus on the things that matter the most to me, as well as be an ecologically conscious consumer as much as I can.

I have sensitive skin, so can only wear natural materials, such as silk, cashmere, cotton and merino wool. However, even with natural materials, which have an ecological advantage because they biodegrade faster, we must be very mindful of our consumer decisions.

LEATHER
I abstain from wearing leather coats because I imagine that it will cost the lives of more cows to produce them. I do own a few leather shoes, but this is only because polyurathane or plastic material for waterproof footware is very difficult to bio-degrade and they also don’t last long, so there is a need to buy more and pollute more.  The leather shoe decision is one where I had to choose a lesser evil. Perhaps one day there will be more afforable, ecologically produced leather shoes. In the mean time, I do not purchase excess leather shoes than I need because it is not worth the lives of animals for vanity.

FUR
I do not wear fur at all because there are just too many alternatives to stay warm, which don’t require killing animals.

WOOL
Wool is more humane than fur and leather as the sheep are not killed to obtain fur, but of course, purchase only as few as necessary. Also, I was disturbed to find out there are inhumane practices in some countries. For instance, as this article on PETA.com notes, Australian wool producers engage in museling (the removal of wool and skin near the sheep’s rear end to prevent fly-strike). The link will provide an address to write to the Australian PM to stop this practice. You can also, of course, boycott by not wearing Australian wool. All it takes is taking a look at the garment tag as to where the material was made.

Organic wool is also on the rise. Organic wool production does not expose sheep to pesticides and hormones, and does not engage in inhuman practices. You may check this link if you want further detail. I am sure that it is more costly than regular wool, but for a minimalist lifestyle, you ideally only buy items once in a blue and only on a need basis, so perhaps you can see it as a worthy purchase rather than buying lots of cheaper, less ecological materials.

 

SILK

I love the feel of silk because it is the least irritating of all fabrics on my skin. However, I was distressed to find out the inhuman practice of silk production. As this site explains, moths/silkworms are killed to prevent them from breaking the silk thread as they leave from their cocoons. The cocoons are from where the silk threads are reeled.  It takes 1000 cocoons to produce a silk shirt, as noted in this article. Some are trying to produce silk organically now, but it is quite expensive. Sadly, I cannot afford the organic silk, and since I can't wear wool and am often cold due to anemia, I do buy silk, but only for utilitarian purposes of staying warm, and not for trend or excess. 

 

If you live in a warm climate, and can do without wool and silk or if you can afford organic cotton, wool and silk, please do so.

For those of us who don't have either of those luxuries, purchase thrift items (in natural materials) to be ecologically conscious as I do. I also try to upcycle clothing by sewing and making them into new garments, such as dresses and tops or household items, such as bedding, window blinds, etc.

For those who would can afford mid range priced organic clothing, check out this post for 5 affordable eco-friendly retailers.

 

5 Affordable Eco-Friendly Retailers

Below are the links for the stores.

Rawganique                           http://www.rawganique.com/

American Apparel              http://americanapparelorganics.com/buy.html

Levis                                         http://www.levistrauss.com/

Jonano                                     http://www.jonano.com/

REI                                            http://www.rei.com/

 

I welcome any other suggestions as well to help me and other readers.

—————————————————————

aparigrahasthairye janmakathamtasambodhah
One who is not greedy is secure. He has time to think deeply.
His understanding of himself is complete. ~ Yoga Sutra II.39

“The more we have, the more we need to take care of it. The time and energy spent on acquiring more things, protecting them and worrying about them cannot be spent on the most basic questions of life. What is the limit to what we should possess? For what purpose, for whom and for how long? Death comes before we have had time to even begin considering these questions.”

(Translation and commentary of translation of Yoga Sutra II.39 by TKV Desikachar)

Sustainable Clothing Fabrics for your Health

Would you willingly put formaldehyde (a chemical that causes allergic dermatitis and has been shown to cause long term health problems, such as cancer as noted in this article on your skin everyday? Well, to my surprise, many clothing are made with formaldehyde and washing does not reduce the concentration in the clothing. According to this article, the below fabrics most likely have formaldehyde:

• Rayon
• Blended cotton
• Corduroy
• Wrinkle-resistant 100% cotton
• Shrink-proof wool
• Any synthetic blended polymer (Eg rayon, polyester-cotton) • Heavy stiff fabrics

An added note, rayon is made from wood pulp that has been treated with chemicals, including caustic soda and sulphuric acid.
The below materials are not treated with formaldehyde resins:

• 100% silk
• 100% linen (if it wrinkles easily)
• 100% polyester
• 100% acrylic
• 100% nylon
• Spandex
• Flannel (if soft)
• Denim (jeans)
• Wool

However, I would just choose 100% silk, linen, wool, and 100% cotton though not the wrinkle resistant kind, as this article notes “Nylon and polyester are made from petrochemicals, whose production creates nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that’s 310 times more potent than carbon dioxide; Acrylic fabrics are polycrylonitriles, which may be carcinogenic.”

Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic; Eddie Bauer; Liz Claiborne; Levi Strauss do not use formaldehyde. Levis has been using organic cotton, and Gap is making efforts to do so as noted in this media release. I am not sure about Eddie Bauer and Liz Claiborne.

Conclusions
So again, I strongly advise everyone to buy organic clothing in natural fibers if you can afford it. This post, as well as the comments from readers to the post, provides many affordable organic clothing options. Organicconsumers.org is also a one of the best resources I have come across for more information on organic clothing.

For those who cannot afford organic, I strongly advise you to purchase items at thrift shops so that you are not contributing to a second round of pollution to the environment in terms of the chemicals to produce clothing, the water pollution and addition to landfill.

When purchasing at thrift shops, only buy 100% silk, 100% wool, 100% linen, and 100% cotton to avoid the dangerous chemicals in synthetics that cause skin allergy as well as serious long term health effects.
My post on Natural Fabrics provides more information on why natural fabrics are better; and my post on Thrift Store shopping gives some tips on the Pros and Precautions of Thrift Shopping.

Silver Lining
I was disturbed that these dangerous chemicals are being used in clothing. However, I am looking at the bright side. I donated 90% all my synthetic clothing over the years due to my skin being allergic to them. Having less options for clothing makes it easier to be minimalist and focus on things that matter. I certainly do not go shopping when I am feeling down as I did before. Now, I just watch a documentary or a good movie, read a book or informative blog. There is less temptation of consumerism because I do not window shop or go into random stores on my walk to the subway or when I am about in Manhattan as I know most of these stores don’t have organic clothing or have mostly synthetic items. When I do need something, I go to the thrift store whenever possible, or otherwise buy organic or 100% natural materials.

There are many negative choices that corporations makes without regard to the health and well being of consumers, but we consumers are not helpless. We should let our purchase speak for our values by buying organic and fair trade items as much as we can, and thrift when we are not able to economically.

Have a happy and healthy day!

Simple Tips to Get Healthy/Fit or Loose Weight

I do not always take time to dedicate to my health. I am sure many of you can relate to that statement. However, the truth is, that our health – mentally as well as physically is something that we should put first no matter how busy we are. The key in doing so is incorporating healthy habits every day and into your routine. It does not involve complicated diets or exercise plans. You don’t even need to get a gym membership, which is certainly something I cannot afford since I am not working, and even if I was, I am not sure if I would fully take advantage of. So, here I will give you some simple tips that have made me loose a few extra pounds, not because I was trying to get skinny because I am fairly thin, but purely because I wanted to be heathly. Just because you are thin does not mean your are healthy, and just because you are a little more than the arbitrary weight charts say does not mean that you are not!

1. Change Your Goal
I have to emphasize that you must start this with a positive attitude. That begins with seeing the beauty in yourself, no matter what your size or what the media portrays. Let your goal be solely to get healthy, not to be a certain weight or fit into a certain size or to look like a certain celebrity.

2. Filter your Vision
Restrict all attention to media that makes you self conscious. This means limit looking at fashion magazines to one day only a week when you are feeling positive or eliminating them completely if you feel they don’t really interest you (i.e. you only pick them up because they are around). Also, limit your television viewing to shows that actually have substance, make you laugh, or intrigue you, not shows with people who make you feel bad about yourself (i.e. the Hills, Extra, etc.)

3) Have a Reasonable Goal
As I said before, stop looking at those silly weight charts. They are quite arbitrary. Your weight does not depend on your height alone, but your bone structure, and your bone density. Instead choose a goal such as, eating 20% less carbs/protein/fat/etc. (whatever you feel you need to have a balanced diet), exercising a total of 2 hours a week, having less than 26% body fat, to be healthy enough to engage in activities with your friends, etc.

4) Filter your Refrigerator & Pantry
I cannot emphasize how important this is. I used to feel bad to throw food out because I thought of all the starving children and people right here in the U.S. and the world. This led me to consuming such insane amounts of sugar that I got hives. Yes, hives from sugar, not to mention regular pimples. If you have a lot of unopened junk food and snacks in your pantry, donate them to a homeless organization, soup kitchen or a homeless person you often see (if you give them canned goods, please give them can opener because they don’t have one). For opened items, if they are safe, feed them to birds or pets. Don’t feed animals things that are not healthy for them, though. Some things you will have to throw out, but remember that you are not helping the world by being unhealthy to your own self. You must take care of yourself first because you can effectively help others.

Of course, don’t purchase these unhealthy items and restock your pantry. Defeats the purpose, eh? Purchase healthy snacks, like fresh fruits or even dried fruits, as long as they have less than 10% added sugar content. For salty, savory snacks, purchase whole grains, or other healthy snack. Eat nuts also. I am allergic, so I cannot do so. I have drawn a liking to dried anchovies, and my husband likes dried squid. We are weird, I know. lol. For these snacks, make sure there are very little preservatives. I want to learn to dry my own.

5) Cook More or Eat Natural When Out
You don’t have to be a good cook. In fact, I find it easier to cook simple, quick  meals because if they are complicated, I am tempted to grab something outside. Reserve complicated meals for weekends and special ocassions. Only buy fresh foods to cook. Chop them up or peel them and freeze them in portion sizes on weekends or days you have a lot of time. This way they retain their nutritional content, and you will not make the excuse that you don’t have time to prepare food or purchase. Cooking at home helps you to appreciate natural foods, and I find a joy in cutting my own vegetables and such. To make your life easier, cook a few times a week, so it is not so time consuming.

If you don’t have time to cook, when you purchase take out, order as natural foods as possible. Avoid fried goods, foods with too much oil, fast food, too much meat or excessive simple carbohydrates (sugar).

6. Exercise Daily in Short Increments
Odds are you are not going to find time for the large interval, and may even dread it when you do find time. Studies show that shorter increments are better anyway. So, walk 15 minutes to/from the subway (30 mins total). Get off an earlier train stop if you have to. If you drive to work, park the car, don’t go in the house and leave your stuff in the trunk, and walk 20 mins. You will feel energized or at least more positive when you enter the house. It will also give your mind time to clear before you do your evening chores. You will be more positive, and more happy to great your spouse and children, instead of wishing they would leave you alone. Which leads me to the last item below. I want to add, if you are a housewife, try to take the long way to the grocery store, or leave your yoga mat or exercise ball out, and hit it early in the morning before your mind finds other things to distract you with.

7. Find 10 minutes each day to be alone
You don’t need to be like Yogis, Zen monks or minister and meditate/pray for hours each day. Just take a few minutes to just relax and not think, and just feel your body and hear the sounds around you. Don’t say words in your mind. If you like to pray in your faith, take a few minutes to clear your mind before you pray. Your prayer will be deeper and more meaningful. Your 10 minutes can be in Lotus position like Eastern traditions do, during a yoga or exercise session or even in your morning walk. Just clear your mind of thoughts of the future, the past, of expectations or obligations.

This helps you really center yourself and will help your health because it will relax you. A lot of our bad habits are due to stress. As you pause your mind and listen to your body more, you will become centered and want to be nicer to your body.

I hope these tips were helpful to you. I will post again on this topic in the future.Your comments are greatly appreciated. Good luck on your path to better mental and physical health.

Lessons from Traveling – Minimize Clothing Clutter, Save Time, Get More Done, Have More Fun!

I traveled earlier this year to South America and Florida for family reasons, then to Madrid, Spain for personal reasons, all within a time span of 2 months. I love traveling for so many reasons, but I usually am not equipped with the extra financial abundance or time to do. As a matter of fact, the last time I traveled aside from Connecticut was 2 years ago.

Traveling teaches us so many lessons about life and necessities. I always come back so reflective of what I really need in life.

On my trip to South America and Madrid, I actually over-packed. I was quite disappointed in myself in that arena. I packed 8 tops and 6 bottoms for South America thinking it will be hot, so I will need to change often, and being that I was there for 2 and a half weeks. However, I ended up wearing the same 4 bottoms over and over, and the same 5 tops. I did sweat like crazy from the heat, but I had access to water, soap and a clothes line, so  I just washed my tops and bottoms twice when I was there. This also taught me the importance of good quality materials because one of my skirts that I rarely wear was in bad shape after 2 washes. To my credit, what I was smart about in packing was all black and white clothing, save for 1 red top and 1 blue top. I did so because I went for a funeral, and for such a situation, I did not want to be bothered with worrying about matching my clothing. However, it affected me after even more because it was so freeing, and really allowed me an extra 15 minutes (+ an extra 10 save because I didn’t do makeup and such) to do important things for my family each morning, such as make sure we all eat.

I was in Madrid for 5 days, and I packed an extra boot in case we go out (in addition to the one I was wearing) and sneakers for sightseeing. Well, I never wore that extra boot, and it was just added weight for no reason. Since, I was staying at a hotel and did not have access to a clothes line, I packed 6 bottoms and 7 tops. I only wore 3 bottoms, and 4 tops because I really didn’t care if people in a foreign city saw me in the clothes 2 days in a row. We were there to have fun, and just get away from the chaos in my life due to tragedy and stress. The last thing on my mind was if I looked perfect or to garner attention. I was with my husband anyway, so who cares, especially when he takes 5 minutes to get dressed himself, and likes when I dress no fuss.

What I learned from that trip was that I should have stuck to my color scheme that I packed in South America. While I packed clothes that match at least one other item, a lot of the items were not worn because the teal and red colors were just too loud, and took so much thought. I love that Europeans dress so subtly, and look so elegant, in subtle colors and styles, and that was a lesson to me as well. When there is less things to match and less care about garnering attention, and more attention paid on being comfortable and looking appropriate, people look so elegant and effortless. I love being American, but we can learn a lot from Europe in this regard. It was in the high 60s to 70s there, and I didn’t see girls in short skirts or shorts without tights or stockings because they are more conservative. What a relief it was to see people not wearing just tights and a short tee shirt. lol. The tights as pants thing drives me nuts because they are an accessory, not pants. At least wear a tunic or short dress/skirt with it. lol.

Over the past 2 years, I have reduced my clothing by only having silk, cotton/silk blend and merino wool since my skin is very sensitive and these fabrics last longer.I have also reduced my clothing by sticking to just a few colors in addition to neutrals, and trying to have interchangeable pieces for work and casual, which has been a but of a challenge because my work is so conservative, and I dress very casually. I also did capsule wardrobes and make sure each of my tops match with 1/3 of my bottoms, but it still wastes time and takes up room in my closet. All of these methods are discussed in this blog, and they are great starting points for those who are new to the minimalist path, revisiting it, or are having troulbe deciding what to donate and what to keep.

I was annoyed at myself that I wasted so much space packing excess clothing during traveling. All my items fit in a duffel bag, but they were wrinkled because they were stuffed so tightly. Half the number of items would mean that it would have been easier to carry, less time thinking about what to match/wear, and neater looking clothes. One of my minimalist roadblocks has been reducing my clothing even further, though I have about have less than 150 clothing items (not including socks and undergarments) total, which accommodates 4 New York seasons and multiple lifestyles (work and casual). Yet, now we can pare even further down by adding a few more rules. Here is my plan to pare down my wardrobe further:


COLOR IS THE KEY
My color scheme is red, black, dusty peach and ink/ultramarine blue. These are colors I have liked since I was 10, no matter what trends or fashion gurus say. I feel like they are me, I am drawn to them, and I feel good in them.

My tops are all red, nude/dusty peach or ink/ultramarine blue.
My blazers and cardigans are all black, grey or black and white print
I wear only grey, black, pinstripe or navy on the bottom.
Shoes and bags are black and leopard. 

As a result of my minimal color scheme, all my tops go with my bottoms.

I avoid white, tan and other light/pastel colors because there is still a goth in me from my teenage years, and more so because they get stained easily, especially in New York. I do have a few white shirts, but they go under my black blazers, and hence, avoid stains. I do have one dark teal dress, one eggplant purple dress and one hunter green sweater dress, which are out of my color scheme, but since they are dresses, I don't have to worry about matching.

I don't feel bored at all with my limited color scheme, but feel like myself with everything I wear, and take less time getting dressed as I don't have to worry about matching so much. To break things up once in a while, I have a few fun accessories like scarves and skinny belts in leopard, red, pink and blue. Scarves also take up little space 

FABRIC/QUALITY
Go for the best quality. It will mean less clothing clutter and time saved from having to shop.

I have learned over the years that it is better to buy one pair of lightweight wool slacks that will last you years than 5 polyester ones for the same price that will wear out in a year. I wash my wool slacks on the gentle cycle or hand wash and hang dry because they are lightweight. They can be worn in the summer or winter.

I restrict my wardrobe to just the finest merino wool or cotton for pants and silk and silk/cotton, silk/cashmere blend (cotton by itself deteriorates after a few washes), cotton lace and cotton velvet for tops and sweaters.

Synthetics are bad for sensitive skin and the environment because they don’t decompose and they ware out faster so that means more items added to the landfill, and they also cause harm to workers in production. I know that wool and silk production are not always humane or environmentally friendly, but there are a lot or organic efforts out there if you can afford them. I cannot afford all of them at the moment, but I try to buy a few items only that will last a long time, so that I am not contributing too much to these negative effects. I also shop vintage often via ebay or thrift shops. End of the season sales are also a great option to get great quality at a good price.

MULTITASK YOUR WARDROBE
I hate having clothing in so many different categories, i.e. work, formal, casual, etc. It means more items, less space in the house, and more thought on deciding what to wear. While, I cannot eliminate clothing when it comes to the seasons because we have four seasons in NY, I am going to start wearing my work clothes casually, and get rid of some of my tee shirts and casual sweaters. I will wear pencil skirts with work jersey type blouses, silk blouses, and camis that I wear under blazers. I will also wear my jeans with blazers, silk blouses and camis from work. That should trim my items down a bunch.

You can choose whatever color scheme and such works for you, but having some guidelines and rules helps a great deal in streamlining your wardrobe. I think you can still look elegant without much thought in the morning or at any time, and while maximizing your space, and minimizing your cleaning time. It just requires some thought and work now. Now I am off to declutter my closet further. Don’t forget to tell me your experiences.

Om Shanti.

Simplicity & Less Stuff = More Freedom

We harbor and obtain so much stuff because of trying to establish a false sense of security. As we have evolved and progressed overall as human beings in terms of human society, we have unfortunately lost touch with the part of our selves that make us free. It is that side that made us want to go outside of our caves and tribes and want to explore and learn about life, nature and what else is out there in the world. It is the side of ourselves that requires embracing adventure. We certainly do not have this freedom if we are bound by a life filled with material obsessions, being chained to a high mortgage for a big house that we are too busy working for to find time to enjoy, organizing and searching for our junk because we just have too much (caveat: I had a recent frustrating event when I was looking for my only mouse pad, but still can’t find it as it is somewhere amongst my books and papers, which I still have too much of, but realize that I need to work on ASAP. I decided to use a book instead, and think I will toss the mousepad when I find it, then it will be one less thing to think about or look for.)


I was watching a BBC special called The Human Planet, and it was quite interesting to see native cultures still living the way they do, and how little they need. Granted, life is not easy as they go days without eating substantial food, and their mortality rate is very high. However, their simplicity of life evoke a certain freedom and peace that I saw I their eyes. I agree with Abraham Maslow that we do need to take care of our basic needs in the first 2 Steps of The Hierarchy of Needs, (such as food, shelter, clothing), physiological and safety, before we can seek to be our optimal self-actualized Self. However, it seems that in the world today, we get caught up on fulfilling those basic needs to an excess where they become wants. Yet, we fool ourselves that all these wants that we have are needs. Then, we wonder how come we have so much depression, stress and unhappiness. Well, we have forgotten the last three steps of The Hierarchy of Needs, being love/belonging, esteem, and at the top, self actualization. Last time I checked, these last 3 steps don’t require money or material things, but more so time. Time is one of the most valuable thing in life. We cannot gain back our lives or the time that we have lost. However, as humans, myself included, sometimes we forget that, and spend our time on frivolous things. For some, it is material things, for some, excess hobbies and interests, etc. This is what inspired me to begin this goal of minimalism, a goal of which I still don’t feel I have reached enough, but that I am continually working on.

Reducing stuff to an arbitrary number or to have an empty hospital-looking home does not in itself give one peace. It is the act of letting go and the detachment from objects that gives us that freedom and peace. It is the freedom in knowing if you have stuff, you will make do, and even if you have less stuff, you will still make do. I certainly have steps to go, but as I have been trying to reduce my stuff over the years, I have tried to get rid of all the things that do not add value to me as a person, to my life and to the lives of the people I care about. This includes not only things, but hobbies, attitudes, and attachments. I seek to learn lessons from everything around me to achieve these goals. The most tangible way and frustrating also is to reduce my stuff.

I still have more to go in reducing my stuff, especially in terms of clothing and books. However, every week, I try to get rid of a few more. This sustained effort, like a healthy lifestyle (think healthy eating vs. extreme fad diets), is the key to success in many areas of life. Success for me would be being able to just have all my stuff fit into 5 or so suitcases, so I can just pick up and move to a new place in a few week’s notice. It is such an exciting thought.

I have realized of late that what holds me back from letting more go is guilt and fear. It is the guilt of wasting so much money in the past, of others in the world wishing they had what I have and that I plan on donating or throwing away. It is the guilt of seeing my mother who I love dearly still work and hearing her tell me not to throw things out and waste things. It is also the valid human fear of being without, of not knowing if like the natives, I will be able to have the resources to obtain things for my survival.

However, when I look at the natives in the BBC special, I don’t see half the fear in them that I and many of our society have, even though they live such stark lives, and have an 1/10 or 1/100 less than we have. Yet, they seem happy, at peace and free to have another day, another meal, time to enjoy life and their families. These are the people that inspire me and that I admire, not the multi-millionaires who own large mansions. Freedom, time and peace are truly some of life’s most invaluable gifts. I hope that you also go forth today and take a step closer to these things.

Om Shanti Om

Sustainability: Digital Magazine Subscriptions & Books

Even though I enjoy reading blogs, and such online, I still love to read good, old fashioned print - whether it be magazines or books. Yet, after a number of 2 for one special magazine subscriptions, I have become frustrated at the amount of magazines that I have accumulated. These stats below got me really thinking of their impact.

Millions of trees cut down a year = more CO2 in the air
Manufacturing 1 ton of newsprint to fulfill circulation of the Minneapolis Star Tribune translates into 4,472 trees' worth of paper every week, or 232,544 trees per year.

Forty percent of the Star Tribune's newsprint comes from recycled material, 5 percent higher than the national average. (American newspapers lag behind their European counterparts in this regard—the average for British papers, for example, is 80 percent.) More than 57 percent of American newsprint originates in Canada, mostly the Canadian Boreal Forest; clearcutting being the preferred technique. Though many logging companies replant felled trees on a one-to-one basis, environmentalists believe these replacement forests (which are often harvested once the trees reach a certain age) are not as effective at storing carbon dioxide as old-growth forests.

Once the logs have been cut, the most energy-intensive phase of the process begins. According to this 2007 report (PDF) from the Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology, newsprint production accounts for roughly two-thirds of a paper's energy consumption. Wood pulping is perhaps the "dirtiest" part of this process (PDF); overall, the Department of Energy estimates that the paper manufacturing industry is the nation's fourth-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, trailing only the chemical, petroleum and coal, and primary metals industries.

Finally, you've got distribution costs—trucking all those copies to newsstands and homes, then trucking them back to recycling centers or landfills. About 69 percent of American newspapers are recycled, with about one-third of that newsprint getting shipped to China.

The end result? According to a 2006 report, a single copy of the British tabloid the Daily Mirror, weighing in at 6.4 ounces, accounts for 6.1 ounces of carbon emissions.

Be Mindful of Electricity Uses of Computer as Well
Paper may be an energy hog, but so, too, are the servers and desktops that make online newspapers possible. Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have estimated that the average server consumes 4,505 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, a figure that includes the power used to cool the hardware. (The average American household uses a bit more than 10,000 kWh of electricity annually.) It's not clear how many servers are required to power the typical online newspaper, but if you factor in the third-party ad servers, it's likely in the hundreds.

You also have to account for the electricity required to power the end user's computer. The Swedish report cited above calculated that a person using a 160-watt desktop with a 120-watt screen who reads an online paper for 30 minutes actually does more environmental damage than if he or she had purchased the dead-tree edition. Granted, this report involved 40-page tabloid newspapers, and the wattage figures are a little outdated. You can also quibble over the assumptions about the environmental cost of disposing of computer hardware, which is factored into the Swedish equation—wouldn't we still buy (and throw away) computers if there were no online newspapers?

Some claim that the paper will decompose very slowly and become fossil fuel, rather than releasing its carbon into the atmosphere, but by the time of that transition to petroleum is complete, our species will probably and hopefully be well beyond the oil era. ) Ideally, copies of the magazine are recycled. But even if an old
The Lantern isn't quite convinced by this argument; he thinks it underestimates the long-term consequences and carbon emissions of logging in old-growth forests, as well as the nasty pollution created by the wood pulping industry. So, despite the intriguing Swedish report, the Lantern maintains that online newspapers come out ahead of their dead-tree Sunday rivals.

That conclusion is subject to revision, though, if American newspapers start adopting more sustainable environmental practices. The Green Press Initiative, for example, recommends that publishers increase their use of recycled fibers to 50 percent of the total by 2012 and use only virgin fibers that have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

By the time the industry gets around to making those changes, however, we may have already entered the age of the ubiquitous e-reader. And at this point, no one really knows how the proliferation of such hardware will affect the planet. But we do know that keeping as many trees alive is better for our environment, us as humans, and countless other species.

Trees can slow down the greenhouse effect.
University of Missouri-Columbia scientists conclude that "The average tree absorbs about 13 pounds of carbon and carbon dioxide per year. Just an acre's worth of agroforestry (rowing trees and agricultural crops on the same land) plantings, using a 10' by 40' tree spacing, would tie up 1,500 pounds of carbon dioxide over the life of those trees," explains Bruce Cutter, a forestry researcher. "Then, if these trees were made into useful, permanent products, the bulk of the carbon dioxide in these trees would be unavailable to contribute to global warming and its possible consequences."

Some scientists project increases of three-eight degrees in global surface temperature by 2030. That is because levels of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide) are expected to almost double, from the current 350 to 600 parts per million.

The solution, says Cutter, is to take advantage of a basic equation that every beginning biology student learns: Trees and other green plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen in their metabolic processes. "Foresters estimate that some 800,000,000 acres of land are available worldwide for reforestation. If we were to use agroforestry practices on these lands, the trees would absorb 600,000,000 tons of carbon and carbon dioxide each year. On a local scale, if a single landowner who farms 2,000 acres were to place the land into an agroforestry management regime, those trees would absorb 1,400 tons per year of carbon and carbon dioxide. To be sure, the landowner would see a reduction in crop yields, but he or she would also have reduced costs of planting, fertilizing, and so on."

So next time, you think of buying or subscribing to a magazine or newspaper that you are barely going to glance at, think of your carbon footprint and it's long-term effects, and weigh if its content will enrich your life and be worth those effects.

Sources of data: http://www.slate.com/id/2185143/ and http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-15511370.html

Simplify for your Health - Get Rid of Plastics

Get rid of plastics - an incentive to de-clutter that is good for your health! 

The media has made quite a flurry of the green movement. While I do care a lot about the environment, and always have, I know that there might be some out there that are not really the tree-hugging types. However, going green not only benefits the environment, but your health as well. Ironically, going green also aids in your path to minimalism. Though shifting through the terms and information may seem a little tedious at first, it will be worth it in the end, I promise.

I recently read an article that scientists have found many dangers caused certain plastics leaching into foods and the environment, which can actually alter your health. I personally have started recycling old glass pasta sauce jars and PBJ jars to store my groceries, like teas, and such. It is not worth buying glass jars solely for that purpose when you already have jars at your disposal. Just take out the label, and if you want affix your own special label.

Here are the most dangerous plastic types. The numbers (types) are usually shown on some part of the container. (I am getting rid of most of my plastics today).

Number 3 Plastics: V (Vinyl) or PVC

Found in: Cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging

Avoid these that contain food and drinks. They may may release toxic breakdown products (including pthalates) into food and drinks, especially when containers start wearing out, are put through the dishwasher or when they are heated (including microwaved). PVC manufacturing can release highly toxic dioxins into the environment, and the materials can off-gas toxic plasticizers into your home.

Number 6 Plastics

PS (polystyrene)

Found in: Disposable plates and cups (including insulated coffee cups), meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers (i.e. soft Styrofoam), cups as well as rigid foams and hard plastic products

Number 6 plastics can release potentially toxic breakdown products (including styrene), especially when heated.

Number 7 Plastics

Found in: Baby bottles, three- and five-gallon water bottles, certain food containers

Hard polycarbonate are the ones to worry about, which are found as found in various drinking containers (like Nalgene bottles) and rigid plastic baby bottles. These leach bisphenol A, a potential hormone disruptor, into liquids. No level of bisphenol A exposure is known to be truly safe, and in August a government panel expressed 'some concern' that the ingredient causes neural and behavioral problems in children.

Swap these plastics for Number 1, 5 or corn-based plastics, or as I am doing, shatter-resistant glass! Another great incentive to declutter!