I've spent a great deal of time looking at The Kind Life, Forks Over Knives, The China Study, cleaning alternatives like EcoCycle, and Ethical Ocean for the last few weeks. There are so many ways that I want to live a "kinder" life, but without a boat load of cash and free time, it seems really difficult. I feel like I'm faced with the obstacle of "Here are your options, but you can only pick two at a time."
To clarify, here is a brainstorm of four lifestyle updates I'm currently focusing on.
Be frugal
Coupons
Find best deals
Sales
Buy only what you need
Create a budget
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
Surround yourself with positive influences (both people and things)
Exercise regularly and using various methods
Eat organic, whole foods -- mostly plants
Get 7-8 hours of sleep per night
Keep your brain active
Live a life that is free of animal cruelty
Keep your brain active
Live a life that is free of animal cruelty
Follow a plant-based diet
Only adopt when you have the time and resources to take care of them as a family member
Use products that are not tested on animals
Avoid leather and fur products
Avoid leather and fur products
Educate yourself
Nurture Mother Earth
Buy local produce
Eliminate "indoor air pollution" in your home (Use natural cleaning agents and hygiene products)
Recycle
Recycle
Conserve water
Use alternative transportation options: public transit, carpool, hybrid or electric vehicles, bike
Let's be honest: Organic produce can be expensive. I don't sleep enough. I own leather items. I'm currently downsizing the amount of chemicals we have in our home.
I am motivated to update our lifestyle, but there are challenges. I just have to take it one
I'm on a mission to be everything-conscious! Want to join me? When you think about it, it's impossible, because some things contradict each other, but it's still worth a shot! Along the way, I am sure that some person, animal, dollar, or landfill will be saved.
2 comments:
You inspire me...
And, BTW, with many of your goals, you should move to Europe (preferably in the next three years...). I don't feel guilty about eating meat anymore because it's not abused beforehand. Germany (although I think it's the whole EU) requires recycling and manages resources extremely well. Public and alternative transportation is the cool thing to do. All produce is local and fresh. And people work to live, not live to work. Aside from the being away from people you love factor, I think you'd adore it here.
I love this post- I deal with similar conscience-confusion everyday. I'm working my way to vegetarianism, but the chicken I buy is from the farm and free range/happy chicken. I've quit buying any leather, and never bought fur- I've even found a purse I love that's vegan leather as well as a camera bag. I do buy wool, but those sheep are HAPPY- I see them everyday!! Oh, and "E" above me is right- buying local and ethical is A LOT easier in England, at least, but I believe all of Europe. Produce even has to say the country of origin on the labeling- YAY!
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