by Roxanne -

Earth Day

Photo R. Meshar

On the heels of Earth Day it’s important to stop and think. We are all connected. Forming one’s conscience isn’t about blindly following the rules. Instead it’s about asking, “whose rules?” or “who makes them and why?”

It’s about developing enough empathy to care about others and the planet with the way one lives, the life work one does and the policies and politics one supports.

More than an “Earth Day” we need an earth life. This requires ongoing education. Read. Read. Read. Learn more.

Watch Annie Leonard’s videos online: “Story of Stuff” and “Story of Bottled Water”

Recommended books to request from your library include Charles Eisenstein’s Sacred Economics, or Michael Pollen’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma.

You may also like Car, Bus, Train, or Plane? and Simple Living.

 

by Roxanne -

Be Flexible

Flexible people are very often also creative people. They can adapt to new situations. They can also see new uses for everyday objects.

Look around. What can you use in a different way today?

Photo Tumblr

You may also like Amazing Spring Flowers and Glass Goblet Harp.

by Roxanne -

Peach Soap

When I was about ten, my friend gave me a box with a soap shaped like a peach. It was realistic, even having a pit – also a tiny soap inside! You can see it in the picture at the left – but mine came in a glossy, pink box too. I think it was my first product from Avon. But I really liked it.

Although, I can’t say what made me remember this particular gift, it did get me thinking about how we are socialized into our gender – as determined by our culture – at a very young age.

What about you? Any childhood gifts that stand out in your memories? Do you have them still?

You may also like Paper Dolls, Roller Skates & Gum Chains, and Let’s Play.

by Roxanne -

A New Kind of Vigil

For Easter this year I experienced a new kind of Easter vigil: helping to prepare and serve dinner to about thirty homeless people. It was not the Easter vigil I was expecting — but it was exactly the vigil I needed.

Also, feeding those who are homeless, struggling or hungry always begs the question – what are the underlying causes of homelessness and hunger?

People are not simply poor, homeless or hungry. There is enough to go around. Rather, they are made poor or hungry by others. Who are the others? Those of us who have enough and benefit from systems and laws that treat groups differently.

I’m always amazed that even books like Half the Sky or Portfolios of the Poor, while able to describe in detail all the ways in which women or other groups struggle with survival, consistently fail to explain the underlying local, federal and international laws that benefit males and certain races, nations and classes.

Charity will not fix this problem or the resulting hunger and poverty. Only systemic change will work. Laws must be changed in a way that everyone benefits, not just some individuals, groups or corporations.

If we can not see how this is true — it is because we are walking around with “blinders of privilege” on, refusing to educate ourselves. Those of us who benefit the most, often resist seeing the truth.

I must continuously make an effort to take off my blinders.

DH – I’m thinking of you this day!