Sustainable Living, courtesy of the public library =P

I really want to share this library book with several people because it's been so interesting and mind-stretching for me... but I will settle for posting a few of the best quotes from the introduction and then perhaps a commentary post later...

Simple Prosperity: Finding Real Wealth in a Sustainable Lifestyle

by David Wann

p.2: "is it really huge houses that we need, or a sense that we've accomplished something in our lives; that we've expressed who we are, and that our lives are large enough to include the people we love? There are more ways of meeting these needs. Is it a string of exotic vacations we need, or the realization that life is an adventure no matter where we are? We don't all have to be millionaires, but we do need creative challenges and a sense of purpose."

p.5-6: "When we choose real wealth, we can have things like healthy, great-tasting food; exciting hobbies and adventures; work that challenges and stimulates us; and spiritual connection with a universe that's so much larger than we are..."

p.9: "Currently, more money is being spent on breast implants and Viagra than on Alzheimer's research. So in the very near future there should be a large elderly population with impressive breasts and magnificent erections, but no recollection of what to do with them." -Sally Feldman

p.10: "Our economy is out of alignment with the values that make us feel grateful to be alive. Values such as health, relationships with people, connection with nature, satisfying work, a sense of purpose, abundance of personal time, and freedom of expression are the real wealth, far more valuable than money and mountains of manufactured stuff."

You guys should totally read this book! It's a lot more than just a conservationist talking about how we should all recycle and eat organic food - it's a real look at our consumer-driven culture and how we can modify our own lives to help save the environment and be overall happier, healthier and less stressed!

Unfinished

There is a strange phenomenon that takes place on the first true Spring evening of the year. The bright intense heat of the day has faded, but light remains in the air, though the hour grows later. Few wanderers are abroad at this time, most having been exhausted by the excited exuberance of the afternoon. Sounds and colors both seem muted, as though the air also rests from the day in languid immobility. The air is still pleasantly warm, a perfect climate for leisurely strolls out-of-doors, and yet this soul encounters few others on her journey. A small inclination of the head in friendly acknowledgement takes the place of casual greeting, none seeming willing to break the relaxed silence that has settled over the town. The vibrant and varied hues of sunset barely peep over the tops of tall buildings, and all else is shades of blue and grey.

This quiet calm, this easy comfortable evening passes slowly as I find my niche to pass the hours, a glass of wine on the table and pen in hand, poised for inspiration. And so we wait, as evening meanders quietly into twilight and smooth musical notes waltz around the perimeter of our awareness... This spring evening is one of solitude but not of loneliness. The quiet does not oppress or depress, it merely exists and drifts freely on a fluttering breeze that draws blossoms from the trees to spiral slowly to the earth in uneven circles. What a night to write! The pen in my hand seems to flow unbidden as the flower petals outside, words drifting to fall as they please across the page, unhindered by deadline or design.

As breezy evening passes into drowsy night, so do the words formulate in lazy circles across the page, being in no hurry to get to anywhere in particular. I take a break to have a bite to eat and the moment is lost, whisked away on that invisible breeze to unimaginable ends, where poetry waits to be found. I sit in profound silence, surrounded by the bustling business of socialization; the chatter of conversation, the clinking of glasses and plates, and the insistent persistent question in the eyes of my waitress... Um, check, please?

The Literate Mind

I find myself in the unique situation of being home alone, without my best friend or my boyfriend, for several weeks. This being the longest I have ever been alone in my own apartment, I am accepting the challenge of experiencing what living alone would be like.

It sucks.

I would rant about how much I hate this and how lonely I feel, but I am striving with all my strength to stay positive about this. I could say how I woke up in the middle of the night from a nightmare and felt very scared and alone in my cold dark empty house. Or how I subsequently overslept, was late for work, and increased the severity of the cold I've been failing to stave off for the past few days. I could ramble about the meals I've cooked, about how clean my kitchen is, or how I'm working to lower the electric bill by turning off all the lights except one and only heating one room (mine).

However, rather than explaining a whole pity-party of sad lonely depression (captured best by me with a glass of wine, watching Star Trek and then contemplating going to bed at 8pm because I couldn't think of anything better to do), I feel the need to focus on the POSITIVE experiences I'm creating for myself. For instance, after a long and exhausting day at work today, I crawled into bed to watch more Star Trek DVDs and eat way too many Doritos. Then, feeling lonely, pathetic, and bored, I contemplated taking a nap.

My best friend asked how I was doing via text message at that moment. After an abruptly-shortened rant where I realized how sad and pathetic I would sound and didn't want to diminish from the fun time he was having, he suggested that I start a new project. After thinking for awhile, and finishing my tv episode, I decided that I should get out of the house while it was still light outside. I contemplated going for a run, but a combination of laziness and concern for my own health (again, I've barely been staving off a nasty cold for several days, and the weather has been awfully unhelpful), I decided on a walk instead.

The walk downtown was surprisingly nice - it was chilly, but the sunlight was warm and cheering, and I took a few photos as I walked. At some time after leaving my house and before arriving downtown I became aware that I was heading towards the public library. Now, I had acquired a library card here some four or five years ago because a friend told me you could rent movies there overnight for free (this was when Blockbuster was still in business), but I don't believe I'd ever actually used the card. Well maybe once... I think.

I immediately wandered to the non-fiction section and began searching for interesting-sounding topics. Now, I'm not one for nonfiction, generally speaking. My bookshelves, bedside table and the pile next to the bedside table are a healthy majority of fantasy interspersed with some science fiction and a smattering of other fiction. However, since I already have all those topics covered I thought this might be a chance to broaden my horizons a little bit and give my brain the workout it's sorely been needing since I graduated college and quit using it.

On the walk home, I felt really good about myself and the small stack of new books under my arm. It's been years since I felt that sense of excitement about new books or actually chose to read something intellectually stimulating for FUN, and these four books on various political, religious and pop-culture topics are going to keep me very entertained and challenged over the next few weeks.

I'm excited about this, and I will post more as I see fit - hopefully, one or more of these books will spark some response or new line of thought that I can write about and share with you, so until then, wish me luck!