Many of you probably remember your mother or grandmother darning your socks. Items were made to last – quality lasts though it usually costs more, so when an item broke it was important to stretch the value. Why not take on that mentality again?

Sometimes it just might be time but someone else would probably be willing to repair it. Instead of just throwing it out find someone that is willing to take your broken items and fix it. Don’t just throw it in the garbage!

Almost every item in your house that is broken could be repaired or reused. If it is the remnants of a broken glass it can be recycled. Garbage just doesn’t need to be created.

Almost all of my garbage (probably 99%) is from excess packaging that has been created by the manufacturer. For example the plastic wrapping on cheese. I reuse my bread bags and everything I can think of. I am doing my best to eliminate or reduce everything by seeking and creating options.

So before you throw something out think about repairing it, donating it, finding an alternative use or not buying the product in the first place. Next week we will talk about the final R – recycle.

The whole green change movement is confusing and overwhelming for many but it can be solved by implementing three simple rules:

1. make a pact to consume less
2. educate yourself on products & sustainable lifestyle
3. repeat rules 1 & 2

That’s right. It’s a circle. Keep educating yourself and challenging yourself to consume less and buy smarter. Every week try to reduce consumption in various areas of your life. Start making conscious, deliberate choices. Celebrate and share them with your friends, family, coworkers, neighbours and peers.

Next weeks will revisit an old concept Reduce, the first of the 3Rs where we will discuss ways we can all reduce, why it is so important and the quickest things we can do to make an impact.

That’s it. I’m leaving you to ponder what choices you can make. Share them with me on twitter or make a comment on the blog.

This year’s focus is simple green changes. Ones that are easy to implement and drastically reduce our carbon footprint. Consumption includes information and time too – less is more.

Today, I am pleased to announce my first guest post from Vlad Dolezal of Fun Life Development to shed some light on why (and how) less is more.

Last summer, I was at a meet-up of esperanto speakers. One evening, a folk singer decided to throw a concert for us. So he played his guitar, and sang, and gave us little bits to sing along to, and everybody had a great time!

After about 10 songs, he finished, and we all clapped and cheered, asking for an encore. We really loved the concert, so we thought we’d have one more song as the encore, and then be off with a great feeling about the concert.

Anyway, he played a song as his encore. And then he played a second one. Then he played a third one, and by this point I started wondering when he was going to be done – I kind of wanted to get out of there. I saw other people in the audience shifting uncomfortably, so I know I wasn’t the only one.

By the fourth encore song, people started leaving. When he finished the fifth encore song and went into the sixth one, I just got up and left. Over half the audience had gone by this point.

Very quickly, we went from having a great time to wondering when the hell he will be done. He simply dragged on just a bit too long, and lost the audience.

And the same applies to your blogging!

You might think that throwing in another statistic, and one more anecdote, and a few more quotes will only make your point more persuasive. But if you lose your audience’s attention, you lose your argument.

Instead, state your point, offer one or two bits of evidence, and then get the hell out, before your audience can start wondering when you will be done.

Like this.

Vlad Dolezal of Fun Life Development has a way of making complicated things simple. His ideas are meant to be fun with fresh anecdotes to drive them home -  passion and purpose is evident. My world improves with Vlad on the sidelines. Check out his blog for more great ideas for improving your life!

The year 2010 has finally arrived. A warm welcome to all my readers. This year I took some time to reflect over the holiday’s. My focus this year is on consumption and simple green changes. Ones that are easy to implement with a dramatic impact on the environment.

By reducing our footprint on the planet we can make a difference for future generations. No need to suffer, these changes are actually quite easy and your participation can make it happen. I can help you explore how to make the changes, what changes to make, how to buy things, what to buy, how to reduce your consumption, what is realistic and what is a greenwash, how to save money and so much more…

the wake of climate change

In the wake of Copenhagen 2010 it is apparent the time has come to make  changes. The real message is not about climate change but is about consumption – both how and what we consume. The time window is very limited and we need to make immediate action. We can’t wait for governments and organizations to debate and discuss. We need to educate ourselves and take matters into our own hands with simple green actions for a better tomorrow.

baby steps

Change is easier if taken in little steps. This year I will be introducing weekly themes with simple changes that are almost pain free once the initial hurdle has been taken. That hurdle exists in your mind. If you think you can do it – you can. If you want to do it – you can. This week (and for the year) the theme is consumption and learning that less is more. To have less and use less really does create a lot more abundance.

Consumption includes information and time too – less is more. So the articles and information given on any simply stephen website will be kept short and simple (for the most part) in easy to digest bits of information with tips, challenges, resources, incentives, suggestions, products and ideas to move you further along your green pathway.

Some of our themes will include paper, wood, plastic, water, air, food, transport, travel, holidays and so on down the line. If you have a theme you would like to learn about please contact me and I’ll put it on the schedule. I’d also be happy to guest post or have you guest post any simply stephen website.

I will post a little more frequently with short, quick posts with a purpose each week. You have enough info and change to digest, so I’m here to ease your burden. Here’s to the green changes you can make this year.

Holiday season has arrived and I want to share a simple message.

A life with abundance is not a world filled with things, it is the things you fill it with that make it worthwhile.

Spend time reflecting and cherish the people and things in your life. Be grateful, not just over the holiday season but for the year to come. Be conscious and dare to make the changes that create a world you want to see. Live on your own terms and inspire others. Strive to be the best and let your unique gifts contribute to a better world.

Here’s a reminder from last year of some Simple Christmas Pleasures that can make the holiday extra special. I know each of you took the time to make some green changes this year and am thrilled to have connected and shared on our journey. Your footprint counts, the little things matter, each of you inspires me to go on.

Be safe, be warm, be happy and enjoy your time with loved ones. Enjoy your holiday! This is the last post until the New Year. Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year…to the possibilities ahead. I look forward to hearing your stories in the year to come.

Peace & love to each of you.

P.S. With the beta almost finished, expect a few changes and more frequent posts in the new year. In fact simply stephen may have a 5 day posting regiment with a very simple and effective formula designed to help you make green changes with ease. Stay tuned…

Christmas is a time of sharing, celebrating and giving form many.  The commercial aspects of Christmas have turned in to a frenzy of purchasing that defeats the purpose. Think of all the things you have and consider pay it forward Christmas gifts this year.

For the person that has everything, perhaps it time to look at gifts that help others. Consider purchasing a donation or an item that gives to a charity for your family members or friends. This is a green a gift as you can give. During no time of the year should anyone be homeless, hungry or alone – especially children. Therefore the gift of food and warmth is extra special and sharing your joy with a family or individual in need of those things is precious.

gifts from a charity

Charity village has an excellent list of non profit organizations that offer a gift and raise money for various causes. They have broken it down into multiple categories.

gifts that sponsor or donate a charity

Another list of credible charities that are related or designed for Christmas giving and poverty can be found at All Things Christmas and of course Santa has various programs that he sponsors and has made a list for you.

donation to charity

In every city there are countless local charities that help your neighbours – the people that live in your town. You know the local groups. The foodbanks, the homeless shelters,  give a gift to a child programs, the clothes for poor and so many more. Why not pick one? Food, money, clothes and various items you no longer need could make someone very happy at Christmas. Forget about spring cleaning or the garage sale next summer. Now is the time to go and do it.

Okay, this post ended up being a little more preachy than I wanted it to but the sentiments are meant to inspire you to rethink even just a portion of your Christmas frenzy and share the wealth just a little bit. What better way to be happy than to spread a little joy to someone else.

So, why am I writing about the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009? Clearly, I must think it’s a waste of time right? Wrong. I think Copenhagen is a big eye opener for the world. BUT… smog alerts, lost habitat, dirty water, oil spills, dried up resources, barren fishing grounds, increased sickness due to pollutants, drought, famine, floods, melting ice caps, strange weather (this list goes on and on)…these should all be eye openers too – think about Katrina. I would have thought that these things would be enough to create change.

Awareness and Change

So, Copenhagen is a wonderful “event” that clearly does two things – it creates acknowledgment by the whole world that there is an issue. Most people follow leaders – until someone else does something the average individual will simply try to look after himself and his family. But the acknowledgment of climate change by key leaders promotes awareness and starts to educate us. It is one catalyst for change. Swift and drastic changes.

There is a second thing and there is a big IF on this one. The climate change conference coupled with recent global collapse potentially creates a global economy centered on the environment. There will be commitments by countries with funding created to resolve these problems. The world will be able to make a shift IF the focus is put on carbon reduction and other environmental issues.

Want to know a secret?

A car is a car. A fossil fuel is a fossil fuel. Consumption is consumption. If you replace a car with an environmentally friendly car or you change your house to be energy efficient it is still not solving the problems. Consumption is the problem. The car still needs to be made with raw materials and is still something that you will eventually throw out.

A key way to change the situation dramatically is to change how you consume products – this change means a change in values. Our values need to be based on important activities with a lower impact on the world – not on things. Using less, not replacing them with something else is paramount.

No amount of awareness or government interaction is going to make these changes. It is not up to your neighbor or the country next door. It’s up to you. If all the YOU’s make simple changes in habits it adds up. We’ve had 50 years of gorging ourselves. Now it’s time to pay the piper.

Want to know another secret?

Green, simple living is pretty cool and very fulfilling. I saw the need 20 years ago and have love nature and the environment for my whole life. The changes to simplicity where easy for me I did them over time, each one prompting me to want more. I knew the changes were coming and there will be more of them, some even harsher than the global disasters and economic fall out that we have witnessed. I felt none of it on a personal level – but was sad to see how the planet and everyone else was affected.

simple siment - so now, I would encourage each of you to make simple changes every day. Small changes that you won’t feel. Add a new change each and every day. Reduce your consumption. Refuse to use. Refuse to buy products that harm. Educate yourself. Become aware. Share your knowledge. Protect your children and the life forms on this planet.

I think we are all worth it. That’s why I do it.

Many of us have moved beyond garage sales and classified ads to find or get rid of items we no longer need. We now go to common resources like Craigslist and Kijiji to discover bargains and sell our stuff.

But did you know, the savvy world wide web has moved beyond list serves and classifieds. There are many new sites taking a bite out of your budget and keeping items from landfill. Stuff that just shouldn’t be thrown out.

Here are just some of the many free communities designed to help you find or get rid of your stuff.

1. Freecycle - the original site for recycling your stuff. With 6 million people and growing this is not just a passing phase. It’s a way to offer or find free stuff – helping people and the environment in the process. I am a member of a local group and it is an easy way to get rid of things to people locally and sometimes find an item you need, even free tickets.
2. Kashless - only available in the US, but Kashless has a system that lets users offer or get free stuff in their local area and offers rewards for your participation to.
3. Rehash - want to swap your clothes? Rehash is a way to help you trade clothes and accessories online.
4. SwapSity – currently only in Canada. As the name implies it is a bartering community that will let you swap your skills and stuff. They also occasionally host local swap meets.
5. swaptree - let’s you trade books, music, dvd’s and videos. Only in the US.
6. neighborrow – helps you find a neighbor to borrow or loan your stuff. Set up as a community, could be used by Universities or groups to help members.
7. greenbarter - is a community where business helps business, small or large by keeping track of services offered and trading like skills to save money.
8. loanables - brings together people who have worthwhile items to loan out and people who want to borrow them.  Best of all, it’s free!
9. swapaskill - swap what you can give or do for what you need.
10. throwplace - take what you need and throw what you don’t. You can choose to donate to charity, international charity, business, individuals or put your item up for grabs. The Internets landfill alternative.
11. boxcycle - find or list your used boxes for moving, storing or shipping. Currently only in the US.

Those are just a few of the great programs out there. Use them if you are green conscious or if you need to save a buck. For the next spotlight we will look at resources to help you recycle or figure out how to recycle and reuse an item.

I don’t often write holiday themes on simply stephen but thought a little note on how to green your Halloween would be refreshing. For this consumer holiday it is easy to overlook some simple steps you can take to a greener Halloween.

Green Costume – try to make your costume or find a costume exchange. If you have a group of friends with kids, see what you can swap. Going to your local store and buying a costume is not a good option (many of those costumes have lots of plastic and toxins) unless you are going to a used clothing store. Donating your costumes to a charity or community group after is a good idea or saving it for child number 2 to wear next year.

Halloween Parties – try sending your invite by email, twitter or an eVite online service. Think about how you will decorate and use dishes and cutlery that can be washed and put away, not the throw away kind. Just give it some thought about getting there, can you car pool and have one designated driver.

Green Halloween Treats – consider treats that are a little more healthy and not maybe even organic if you can afford it. Some treats like lolipops, snack bars and dried/rolled fruit are a good choice from the health standpoint and especially dark chocolate. You could get creative and substitute with a toy instead of candy – make sure you have a good selection or the kids might give you a trick! You can find organic treats for a bargain at your local organic health food store. Sweet potato cookies made with stevia or a variety of healthy but delicious snacks like granola bars could also do the trick. Use a recyclable bag to collect the treats or even a pillow case.

Decorations – try decorating with recycled items. Cutting out recycled cardboard into Halloween shapes. You can pile up leaves and fill sacks to make scarecrows or other items of fear.  Pass on the pumpkin if you don’t have kids that want to carve, or you can simply draw the face on and use the pumpkin to make pie. If you do carve the pumpkin, use it all and make sure you compost the rest.

As an added note you don’t have to follow the kids around in the car or drive them – try walking. Hope that gave you some fodder for your Halloween Haunt. Please add your two cents in the comment fields so we can generate some more ideas for next year. Thanks for reading and have a safe and happy Green Halloween.

Life is a delicate balance, as is the balance of the planet. Last week’s article on  20 Simple Ways to Reduce Climate Change is a testament to that. The ripples on the pond of life are interwoven with everything.

All actions that we take have consequences. Some positive and others negative. Some large, some small. It is important to make most of our actions create a positive spreadsheet. Without these changes we will not flourish.

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. – Sir Isaac Newton

Human Interaction

All personal actions will have an impact on someone. How we talk  and interact in general. I carry many regrets for my curt tongue and harsh words that have left my mouth. Thinking before you speak is truly a wise man’s skill. But each of us can only look forward and change the present. The actions of today will speak for tomorrow. They can’t erase the past but can balance the future.

When speaking with someone come from the heart. When doing something look at the effect it might have on others. If you have anger, resentment, distrust or any other negative feelings learn to deal with the cause and find a solution. Work at it. The results will be a positive ripple in the long term.

Lead By Example

So let’s tie this into the world. It takes a brave person to speak out or do something differently. We tend to follow the herd. It takes care and conscious effort to think about the planet. When nurturing a child, one takes the time to offer love and keep it from harm. Why not the planet?

If you take an action that benefits the planet, other people will see that action. This will have a ripple effect. Pretty soon everyone will be doing it. It will be hip. So the more actions you take, the more people you encourage, the more consciously you change your consumer habits, your sustainable choices, your humanitarian treatment of people and your general views on the planet (which we share) then the quicker we can have results.

From now on, I want each of you to think about the actions you take. Be deliberate in your choices. Find the energy to change, it’s inevitable anyway (though personally I feel too much change is unhealthy – and that’s why our planet is unhealthy too) How will you interact with the planet and people around you? Please take time to share your comments below.

Today, October 15, 2009 is Blog Action Day 2009 and the topic is Climate Change, something I have yet to speak about. I don’t generally write about the scientific side of environmental issues but rather everyday solutions and living with a lighter footprint. That is not going to change today.

Climate Change is something that was until recently called global warming. Global Warming is by definition an increase in the overall temperature of the earth’s entire surface. Climate Change is changes in regional climate such as humidity, rainfall, wind, temperature and severe weather events. As you can see the latter is much more dramatic and impacts our lives in very concrete ways.

There is no disputing the issue, global leaders and almost all of the worlds scientists agree and are taking actions. Many people feel helpless but little every day actions can make a big difference. They add up. But the change needs to be very large scale.

Simple Ways to Reduce Climate Change

We need to take action within the next decade to reverse the already devastating effects of climate change. Instead of looking at problems let’s look at some simple solutions in key areas where each individual can make a big difference.

Transportation

1. Change your mode of Transportation – bike, walk, carpool, just drive less
2. Maintain your car weekly by checking the fluids and tire pressure & change your driving habits by reducing your speed and idling

Home

3. Replace Light bulbs with LED or CFLs
4. Wash with a full load (use cold water) & use a clothes line
5. Reduce water – Don’t leave the water running. Change your shower head and habits, run dishwasher full
6. Home heating & cooling – Change the temperature by just 2 degrees, maintain your HVAC System, get green energy tags
7. Replace & Recycle old appliances
8. Winter proof or weatherize your home
9. Recycle everything – and don’t forget alternative uses and reduction
10. Be green in your garden – water less, use a push mower and be natural
11. Turn all items off, not just the lights – think about computers, appliances and other unused items in the house. They all suck electricity.
12. plant native trees and flowers to maintain eco-system and produce oxygen

Work

13. Review your paper consumption habits
14. Reduce or eliminate business travel – teleconference, travel light

Consumer Habits

15. Buy local, organic, fresh produce when possible
16. Change your habits – reduce all fossil fuels, waste and plastic consumption by reviewing purchasing habits – reduce packaging, travel time and products. Don’t forget to bring a bag and mug for you coffee or drink.
17. Become a Minimalist – you would be surprised at what you really need.

Participation

18. Spread the Word – write a letter to the government,  newspaper or blog; tell your friends, teachers, employees,  and colleagues.
19. Get involved in a community or conservation group
20. Learn more and learn why

There you have it – 20 simple ways to reduce climate change. These are simple things that you can do in a matter of minutes. Taking the time will make a difference. Thank you for reading my post on Blog Action Day 2009 on climate change. Please add your comments with other simple actions we can take to make a difference. I know there are hundreds more.

I will also be making changes to the blogs navigation and theme branding it with some other sites that are part of the Simply Stephen Newtork.

Please visit the survey page

There are only seven questions and the first four are multiple choice. I’ve left the three comment questions optional but would obviously need your input to improve your user experience and my blog quality.

The deadline is October 14th so I can tabulate the results and start acting on the changes. I’ll put a follow up posting sometime before the end of the month. Thank you very much for your input. Without you, I would not exist.

The 90 Days is over. I have completed my challenge and over 25 people also participated. Though not intended, I finished the challenge on the 11th hour just this Saturday. With the support of my friend, we went out for a couple hours and both gave out free hugs. I chose The Beaches, a friendly neighbourhood in Toronto. I might go down to the business district in the future.

Let me tell you about it. The first person we saw, a family, in fact the husband first gave or is it got the first hug. Amazing. It just got better from there. I thought that I’d be shy, as I’m quite introverted but I guess I have no shame. I’m was just so excited about the experiment that I embraced it. I guess this was apparent as people jumped out of nowhere and we gave hugs, probably over 100.

I was pleasantly surprised. All my apprehensions disappeared in the first couple minutes. I was holding the sign high and asking people if they wanted a hug. Many smiled. Some laughed and loved the idea. Others looked away, to avoid contact. Some just hugged. But mostly people were accepting and it certainly brought some joy to all who witnessed. All the hugs were great. It brightened a rainy day for many.

Stay tuned for future updates. More hugging and challenges to come.

Fall has arrived, so I think it’s fitting to do an update on my wonderful vegetable garden experiment and the harvest this year. The garden was an experiment in simplicity. I wanted to plant and maintain in a Thoreau style – letting nature fend for itself. With the occasional watering and a couple times weeding, I would say this was achieved with incredible results.

I went away when my daughter was here in August and we had a bit of a dry spell. My room mates did not water the garden and yet the quantity of yield did not diminish, though the plant quality did. The Beefsteak tomatoes turned yellow, but this could have been because of the soil. I will plant tomatoes in a different area next year. The fruit still did well.

Here’s what I planted at the beginning of the season:

1. 8 Beefsteak Tomato Plants
2. 4 Plum Tomato Plants
3. 4 Zucchini Plants (actually 7 but one was a cluster)
4. About 16 Swiss Chard
5. 8 Leaf Lettuce
6. 4 Beets
7. 1 Fennel
8. Dill, Cilantro, Basil and Mint
9. Chives, Onions and other lettuce
10. 4 Marigolds

Here’s the fruit harvest. I lost count of the tomato plants but made 4 batches of sauce and ate many fresh fruit from July to the present. I’m still eating. The total estimate is well over 350 tomatoes.

The zucchini was great early on and I even got a few monster ZUCH when we went away but later in the season the raccoons and animals seemed to get them. I probably picked about 50 of them with most of them before mid-August. The lettuce grew twice for me and some of the swiss chard got me 4 pickings. Needless to say I had a variety of meals with them.

The herbs did fine, though when I went away the basil seeded, so I did not get it for as long as I thought. The chives are still thriving in various places over the garden. The beets and fennel have not been harvested yet but I’m expecting a couple of nice meals from them.

The grand total was about $30-40 worth of plants. Some of the lettuce was seeds. Next year I may try more seeds. I would estimate that it would have cost me over $500 to buy all the vegetables and sauces that I made, so it was worth it. Very fruitful and actually lots of fun. The cut off will provide a nice quality for the compost next year.

I encourage all of you to try a garden. If you have an apartment, try a little potted tray with a few herbs and a small tomato plant. The results are worth it and the harvest was delicious. I will be eating my sauce well into the winter and was able to share fresh vegetables with many family and friends. The simple power of a garden helps create a natural green way of living that I’m quite content with.

I want it all and I want it now! To contrast last weeks post on the Things in Life that are Important, it’s time to take a look at instant gratification versus gratitude. It seems to have taken over and is certainly rampant, perhaps a little too much.

With a slowed economy, dramatic world events, the collapse of the auto industry, climate change and other global issues it’s a wonder people are thinking about taking care of the now and not tomorrow.

Ready in 5 minutes

We want an instant cure, fast food, immediate responses, instant banking, real time information. A google search that takes 0.01 seconds to retrieve 12 million results is slow! Snail mail barely exists. Sure some of these things might save us our personal energy but at what cost? Perhaps a little more time should be spent considering tomorrow.

If one doesn’t take time to fertilize soil, plant seeds, water and care for the ground then the future will bring barren land. Nothing will grow. The same is true with the price of instant gratification in real life. There is a cost to pay. The materials, resources and energy that we use to attain things are proving to not be sustainable. The rate of our consumption is dramatically catching up with us.

The Personal Cost

But there is a greater cost. The attention span and attitude that comes with instant gratification plays a toll on the people around us. We lose character traits like patience and consideration. Patience is a strong skill for leadership, nurturing and understanding. What goes next, compassion?

Health and welfare are certainly playing a role. Let’s mortgage the future for today. Spend now and worry about paying for it tomorrow. Those instant foods have plenty to be concerned about. If you can’t pronounce it, it probably isn’t good. The convenience of getting things now, driving to the store is paying it’s toll.

We are getting larger, lazier and even noisier. For many people with sensitivities, society is a lot more distracted. It’s difficult to read a book on a bus if the person next to you is yacking on the phone about what Mitzy did on Thursday night. The sense of importance in texting that message is unreal. A fire is a real emergency, not gossip. The emergency might be the accident that was caused because you were to busy texting to worry about driving!

The Global Cost

We are using more resources and contributing less to society as a whole and more to our own individual bottom line. If we took a small portion of our energies and focused it on resolving some of the major concerns in the world such as poverty, healthcare, disease and environmental issues such as climate change and CO2 emissions instead of putting our hot air into a microphone or computer we could get a lot resolved.

Sorry about the rant today but ask yourself the question “Why do I need this now” and “Am I forfeiting my future or that of future generations” before you do something. Changes in the world are not about a bunch of little things. It is apparent that dramatic change are needed now and stepping up to the plate involves everyone’s participation and attention. Thanks for caring.

Take the Time

I make sure that every day involves a bit of time for myself. And every week I try to connect with friends and family, especially my daughter. I share my trials and tribulations. I play my guitar, read, enjoy nature, good food and make sure that I am looking after the things that count.

Every August long weekend, I attend an annual event with a group of friends at a beautiful cottage in Ontario’s Muskoka region. It is one of the highlights of the year for me. Not because of the beauty and not because of the time away from everyday life but because of the company of friends (that I may not get a chance to see very often because of proximity and schedules). This connection and reconnection to people that are important to me is something I look forward too. It makes me realize how special our time is.

This summer was so much more. Just after my special weekend, my daughter arrived from England to spend some of her summer vacation with me. Though I talk with her every week, I had not seen her for 26 months, an eternity. When she arrived it was a dream come true. I knew why I was here and enjoyed every moment spent. We visited more friends and family, all the time wishing it would never end. The memories and time spent can’t be taken away from me but things that I own can disappear in a flash (and in the past they have). You can take them away but can’t take away the love and memory.

After a wonderful highlight of time spent with my daughter, I had a surprise last minute visit from my brother, whom I hadn’t seen for several years. Again, distance and other circumstances keep us apart. That instant connection, the same one I had with my daughter, quickly melted away the time that we had missed. I also attended a wedding celebration of my oldest friend, who has lived in Korea for almost 10 years and out of province for most of 2 decades. It was great to meet his bride and spend time with his family (and he has a little one on the way). To top the summer off, my sister will be getting married in a few weeks. What a summer.

It’s Fleeting

Now if that doesn’t top the cake, to hit home just how important the things in life are – a close friend has a relative that needs to undergo heart surgery. Sounds important doesn’t it. The perspective should make you think about what you can replace and what you really need. People and events can not be replaced.

In true synchronicity, Tess over at The Bold Life, submitted a video posting on being grateful. Take the time to view it and realize that all we have is today. The people around us and the beauty in the world is enough to be thankful for. It’s not the things, it’s the things in life that are important.

What’s important in your life? Do yourself a favour. Take the time!

Stick to a few simple guidelines, the ones you choose. It’s a problem to decipher all the literature and hype. A change in your consumption habits can drastically reduce impact on the planet. If you want a consumer guide to find safe, healthy, green products, use the Good Guide to get results. Better yet, avoid commercial products (there are exceptions like computers or fridges). A much gentler and sustainable way forward.

Here’s my 12 Step Program to choosing green products:

1. BUY USED – If you can find it used – buy it that way,
2. LOCAL -Buy it local, when purchasing online look for local options (you can target by area for eBay). Transport and freshness.
3. QUALITY OR HANDMADE – Is this a quality item that will last for a long time? Cheap, mass produced items usually last for a lot less time.
4. CAN I MAKE IT MYSELF
5. INGREDIENTS – Is it plastic or made from toxic material? Don’t buy chemicals, things with danger on the label – look for natural alternatives
6. PACKAGING – How much packaging is there and what is it made of?
7. SEAL OF APPROVAL – Products that have Green Seal, Fair Trade or Certified Organic (USDA) are safely green and ethical It could have energy star on it, but what about the process and company it was made by, how well does the item recycle
8. COMPANY TRACK RECORD – Is the company that made it ethical, green and socially conscious (careful on this one) plus revert to step one and choose the little guy!
9. COST TO MAINTAIN
10. MULTIPLE USE – Do I have another product or item that I could use in place of this?
11. COULD I SHARE IT – Think about how you buy it, not just what you buy.
12. DISPOSAL Is the item really green – what will it take to recycle it and how much will it cost to maintain it in terms of time, travel, shipping, parts, labour etc.? Can this item be recycled? This is the full circle, if you get it

Do some research – places like greenerchoices.org can give you a starting point and you can find products in the Good Guide listed above.Before you purchase something you may want to ask yourself the question – do I really need this and if so why? Then ask – how will this really change my life? This will be a starting point for a conscious choice in your habits. You could also borrow, rent or share the cost of a new product.

IF this hasn’t confused you, the next article will introduce you the the concept of green washing and why you should be careful about what you buy. Many people think that the choices they make are green because the media has convinced them they are green products. It’s not just the product but rather the whole picture.

During this season the birds and animals forage, they raise young and teach them how to survive. These young explore their surroundings, frolic, play and rest. The plants grow, flower, seed and provide nutrients for the soil. It is all part of the process.

Learn and Connect

We could all take a lesson from this. We can connect with our children too – teach and play. We can also learn from them, it should not be one directional. We can share time and play with our partners.  We can learn to relax and enjoy life and our surroundings, take time to smell the roses, something we should practice all year round. We can explore and visit – friends new and old. We can rest. It’s time to release your inner tortoise.

This simple process of slowing down and taking time off allows us to continue for the long winter ahead. It connects us with the earth and with people. Every summer, I have specific events and times that I go to. It is precious to spend time with friends to enjoy the outdoors. Connection. It gives me time to reflect and realize what is really important and why I exist. It helps us get strong.

Make a Pledge to Slow Down and Take Time Off

So, I hope each of you will, if you haven’t already, set some time aside and do something (or perhaps don’t do anything). Here’s a simple suggestion list:

1. Spend quality time with a friend or family member
2. Learn something new
3. Go out and explore
4. Watch your children, grandchildren or friends children play (and go play with them)
5. Read a good book
6. Get off the computer and be active
7. Volunteer or help a neighbour
8. Sit out in the backyard or at the cottage and watch the world go by
9. Cook and share a good meal, hopefully fresh and local
10. Release your inner tortoise

I’m Slowing Down

For the next couple weeks, until the middle of August, I will be visiting with family and friends. My daughter is visiting, to share time and enjoy life. I generally go at a slow pace anyway, life is too short, not to enjoy it. I have however, scheduled a couple regular posts to keep you informed and share with you, but it is unlikely that I will communicate with social media and email on a regular basis, if at all. You may also have noticed less activity on the site, on Twitter and via email.

Why? Because I’ve already slowed down – my inner tortoise is in full force. I’m enjoying the garden, my guitar, good food, fruit picking, time with friends and the process of summer. I hope that all of you will slow down and take some time off too!

Please share with me what your tortoise is doing.

In general, I try to create quality over quantity. Time gets the better of me, but rather than follow the hoards, I prefer to take my time and create something worth sharing. There are lots of things that I want to get done, but my philosophy is to get it done right!

Post Something You Can Be Proud Of

There are many blogs and websites, large and small, where the postings are consistent and provide an accurate and strong measure of what they are trying to say. This is not by chance. Chris Guillebeau from The Art of Nonconformity (AONC) uses the term “Be Remarkable”. If you are not than it is not worth doing. The strong majority are simply mediocre. The same is true of products – if you buy quality, it lasts and you don’t need to keep replacing it. In the long run it saves you more (and most of those quality green products save the planet too).

This doesn’t mean that every article is going to be a viral post that everyone loves. People have different needs, they could be reading when they are tired, the topic could be something they are not interested in.

If you stick with the premise of quality, you will build loyal followers that trust your content and advice. That’s why I create all my own content. It’s my blog. I verify. I gather my info from trusted sources, including a large portion from books and the library. I also formulate my own thoughts and ideas. Independent thought can take you to the next level in your mind and creative place.

Don’t Rush It

I was recently working on a post and was hoping to put it up this month. But I stopped myself. It wasn’t ready. My message had not been formulated to a standard that I could accept. There was more to say and ideas needed to be verified and tested. It wasn’t remarkable. So I set it aside. Just like food, if you rush preparing it, it will not taste as good. I am waiting to change the message and improve the quality. Rushing will not help me and I don’t want to leave a sour taste in your mouth. It’s like the fine bottles of wine aging in the picture above.

Quality and Standards mean you care

You may have noticed that I sometimes only put up one post a week. I have not yet put an email optin, free report or eBook. There are limited forms of monetization. That is because I am concerned with the quality. I want you to benefit from it. I want to provide solutions and evoke thought. I do not want to sell to you like an internet marketer (or any marketer for that matter). I care and will do those things when I am certain they will meet your needs.

They will be different than the norm. They will be as green as possible. They may be local. They will be affordable (very affordable) in a world where everything is overpriced. They will inspire others to try the same. They will be informative, they will not carry pushy sales messages. They will be helpful. They will respect you and they will assist your goals and aspirations. I encourage each of you to do the same.

Quality of Life and Time with Loved Ones

My daughter will be visiting me at the beginning of August. I will dedicated the 2 weeks to my time with her. I will share the 90 Day Free Hugs Challenge with her. My regular Friday postings will still go up, but I will spend limited time on the computer during the first half of August. Why am I telling you this? Because it’s about quality. She lives far away, and I don’t get to spend a large quantity of time with her. But when I do, I spend quality.

I won’t be going to amusement parks and entertaining her. I’ll be sharing with her. I’ll be connecting and learning from her. I’ll be visiting friends and family. I speak with her almost every week consistently, sometimes for hours at a time – we talk, play games, sing, write, read, dream and learn. That quality beats out everything.

So before you worry about how much of something you have. Think about what standard it is. That quality matters more in the long run than anything else. Without it you have nothing.

Shift your perspective

The Dalai Lama states that shifting your perspective is not only a way to achieve happiness (perhaps the true goal of life) but is a way to overcome all of life’s obstacles. For instance, looking at things from a wider view will make an apparent problem seem much smaller than it is. In reverse, focusing on an issue or feeling can help discover solutions that you didn’t know existed. So, if you have trouble accepting something, try shifting your perspective. The world looks substantially different from a 1000 feet above the ground.

Why do you feel that way?

Put simply, it’s about belief and emotion. Is the world gentle or hostile, flood or drought, hot or cold, happy or sad, filled with misery or joy? It’s all of those things. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

You may have heard of the expression “put yourself in the other persons shoes” time and time again but have you ever actually practiced it. Imagine this scenario – everyone in the world is right handed (or so it seems) except you. You are left handed and you want to tell everyone that you are left handed. Wow! How would you feel? Scared, embarrassed, ashamed and confused. You would be devastated. Especially, if you were unable to tell anyone for fear that you would be estranged from the world (after all we all need to connect).

What if you told your friends and family and they rejected you? Seems a bit odd, doesn’t it? Maybe they don’t like left handed people but it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t like you. I don’t like it when people get angry but I still love the people that get angry at me. I don’t like trees being clear cut and forests destroyed, but I still have wooden furniture. Okay, you get the point, it is important to change your perspective.

How do you change your point of view?

No straightforward solution will get you there. There are however, techniques and things you can do to help get there. Remaining an observer, instead of making judgment is a good start and helps you refrain from analysis. You have an option in life to be optimistic and to change your perception. You can expand your horizons by:

• turning a disadvantage into an advantage
• being grateful for what you have
• looking for hope
• ask a different question – more narrow or broad
• look at prevention versus cure

What solution would someone else put in place?

Albert Einstein said “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them”. Ahhhhh! So change is the key. Try this instead. If you are coming up with the same views or problems, look a little further (step back). See what solution someone else has put in place and figure out how you can emulate the result. Perspective is key. If you are too narrow to look at a different one than the change will never come. You may have heard of Tim Ferriss and the 4 Hour Work week it is all about perspective. The doubters resist, but the true changers in society embrace change and shift their perspective. Which one are you?

Are You Ready?

We often hear about a company downsizing but a more recent phenomenon is downsizing your personal life. With the recent Garbage Strike in Toronto, global recession and substantial talk about climate change it is clearly time to think about simplifying. Downsizing your possessions will help bring about a clarity in your life.

We All Have Choices

When a company is downsizing, the reasons are often motivated by lack of sales or a change in  markets. The downsizing often comes fast and hard. It hurts. Many people are devastated when cutbacks happen and there is a negative ripple effect on the people that depend on them. But when an individual decides to downsize it is clearly because change is happening. And change is good. Right! When you make a choice to downsize it is a choice to save money, simplify your stuff (and hence your time), create a lighter footprint and learn to grow as a person.

Enjoy the Process

Downsizing is a difficult thing. It takes time to build up the courage. It is something that I would encourage everyone to do. It is much easier if you do it in baby steps. And it is much easier to do this voluntarily then to be forced to downsize because your situation has changed. If you learn to make it an active part of your life it is actually something that you can enjoy.

When I first started downsizing almost 15 years ago, it was because I was moving out of country. Initially, I got rid of some stuff, maybe 10% and stored the rest in my parents basement or with friends. When I returned, I discovered that most of the stuff was not missed. I had not been using it and it served no purpose. Packing and shipping it was costly, items could get damaged and the space needed to maintain all the stuff was also a factor (not to mention a burden on finance).

Light Bulb!

If only I had the stuff I used, loved and needed; life would be so much easier. And it is. One can make a little bit of money selling the things. Costs are cut dramatically. Moving is a much less involved process. One can enjoy the things they have more. Cupboards have space. Life has less clutter and it takes less time to maintain everything. It also changes  personal spending habits – stuff doesn’t make you happy. An abundant life can be spent doing things instead of acquiring things. Reduced income to maintain a lifestyle is a catalyst for freedom.

Some Lessons and Habits

I learned how to set up a new place quickly with all the things I needed. Furniture is the easiest thing to part with and replace. I have some basic items but I know how to find quality or purpose filled furniture, wherever I go and often for free. I can feel good about donating it when I move on. Just like spring cleaning, I make a regular habit of getting rid of stuff. It’s easier now so I can do it ruthlessly. I don’t suggest a beginner take this approach unless drastic measures are called for. Take your transition slowly over time.

I also learned the true value of my time and the things that I wanted (or should I say wanted to be doing). I kept my guitar, it offers me hours of pleasure and serenity. I kept a few memories, including photos and childhood mementos. I removed old equipment, stopped buying gadgets, simplified to a laptop (though I’m back to a desktop & laptop for other reasons). I reduced massive amounts of paper, magazine and books (hint these are bulky, hard to move, get damaged easily and can always be replaced). I changed my wardrobe to the bare essentials.

Where do I start?

The hardest items are the sentimental ones which often include books or music. For real pack rats things that they perceive as having value are also hard to let go. These things represent us. Instead of removing them, perhaps rethink it’s cost and usage.

Are you ready to just have one big MP3 portable jukebox for all of your music? If you could sell your 5 stereos and only use MP3′s would the sale buy you a single, perhaps portable player that you could use anywhere and meets your needs. Think of the space, the money and the payback.

Books can actually be a little harder. Start with the books that you know you won’t read again and treat yourself to a new book purchase by trading them in at a used bookstore for credit. You get something for nothing. Text books are often hard for some people…you are finished school now, they can go. In a previous post How to Simplify your Bookshelf I concentrated on this because it is challenging to reduce your bookshelf but is a prime example of how you can downsize in steps.

Clothes can be slowly eliminated and gives those that love clothing a chance to get a new wardrobe every once in a while by getting rid of the old and in with the new. Photos can be scanned and saved, duplicates thrown away and those fuzzy pictures…guess what, you don’t need them. There are so many ways to downsize. Start now and take it in little chunks at a time. You would be amazed at the free space, time and abundance of living you create and will find that you can save costs by not having to maintain certain things.

So give your items a rethink. Talk it out with friends. Hire an organizer. Donate. Free up the money and space. Downsizing your personal life will offer you a giant reward, unlike the punishment of being downsized.

It’s fitting that in a recent posting I talked about smelling the roses. Toronto and the City Government is currently not smelling like roses with the second week of the garbage strike. It looks like there is no relief in sight.

Various issues have been brought to our attention. The rate of pay at $25 for a garbage worker is well above minimum wage. The current economy and timing of the strike during the peak of tourism season is certainly not a good thing. The smell, the impact on the environment, the animal infestation. There is a lot of talk about the inconvenience of the strike. The fact of the matter is that if we didn’t consume so much and started to look at how we purchased our products and disposed of our waste we would feel less of an impact.

Majority of Waste is Commercial

The City of Toronto has made some efforts to reduce garbage levels. New recycling programs target the residential consumer, but fail to implement an equitable solution for the majority of waste, over 70%, which comes from industrial use. Some of this commercial waste is from the construction industry and a lot of it is from land development and condos, privatized pickup with limited recycling programs. If these systems were reviewed more intensely a rapid solution could be developed.

Is it Time for a Change in Attitude?

So, what is the solution? To say that we should reduce our consumption would be trite. But it is one reality we should look at. When the strike is finally resolved, it is likely that we will go back to our old habits of consumption. You may have heard the expression if you can’t pay your bills, there are two things you can do – cut costs or earn more money. Well on the same note with consumption and garbage there are two things you can do – reduce the garbage and use the existing garbage to make other things (hence earning more money with it).

Reducing the garbage involves a change in our attitude of consumption but it also involves community solidarity to reduce the amount of packaging and waste that is created. Some people might call this naive but in Europe, where space is precious, they realized the environment was under threat a long time ago and over a decade ago implemented a plan that involved the manufacturers, governments and communities.

The plan – to reduce & make packaging eco-friendly. The also included the environmental impact (carbon emissions) in creating products. They committed to goals and have worked on a united front to reach them. This involves how much packaging can be used per product, manufacturer take back programs, alternative uses for end of life and the overall impact of each product.

Radical Solutions

The other side of the coin, recent publicity has seen people like Sustainable Dave prove that you can change your habits and throw nothing out with his blog 365 Days of Trash. For one year he saved, recycled and reduced everything in his household. It was such a success that he now does it as a permanent solution. Colin Beavan, demonstrates solutions with his website No Impact Man in his words:

To do this, we will decrease the things we do that hurt the earth—make trash, cause carbon dioxide emissions, for example—and increase the things we do that help the earth—clean up the banks of the Hudson River, give money to charity, rescue sea birds, say.

Now these are extreme examples but it should be noted that extreme times call for extreme measures. We cannot sustain ourselves forever at the rate we are going.

Let’s Brainstorm and Implement a New Era of Garbage Reduction

I think there is a happy medium to be found. We can all do our part individuals, corporations and governments alike. Our efforts to reduce garbage have hardly touched an extreme level. We can do more, much more. On a given garbage day, on any Toronto street thousands of unwanted items are simply dumped when someone could use them. There are many not-for-profit organizations that will take items. There are many products that could be used to reduce the impact each of us have. So come on Toronto, lets start taking the time to look at solutions for the future, not just the present.

So let’s find some new and innovative ways to resolve our garbage issue and not just for the short term. Let’s share them and be part of the catalyst for a new era. I am certain that Mayor Miller and the city workers will find a solution. I only hope that it is sooner rather than later. With the present state of the economy, the city should take some pride in resolving this garbage strike in a more quick and efficient manner. Globally, we already have enough mess to clean up.

Sounds a bit crazy! Well, yes and no.

I’d like to share with you my thoughts about the benefits of giving free hugs. Why would one consider this?

1. First and foremost, the challenge is about having fun
2. Building a more compassionate world (peace and harmony)
3. It’s about change and outlook
4. Putting a smile on someone’s face
5. Spreading joy (and maybe even stopping negative feelings with bad results)
6. Acceptance and awareness of the people around us
7. Personal growth – helping heal the hugger or huggee
8. It’s about action – doing something, anything with focus and passion
9. Building courage, self-confidence and esteem (valuable tools in all walks of life)

These are just a few benefits. I encourage everyone to consider the challenge. If you find it difficult, dig a little deeper or instead just think about the warmth of a hug and offer them more freely to your family and friends. A hug is special and something special should be shared with the ones you care about.

For those of you with a Twitter Account please help and retweet by clicking the badge below:

Please add your comments on other relevant benefits to build upon an already solid reason to participate in the 90 Day Free Hugs Challenge and don’t forget to join the challenge and spread the word. A big hug goes out to all of you for visiting.

It all started last week when Vlad Dolezal of Fun Life Development Blog (formerly an amazing mind), put a posting up on how he had finally mustered up the courage to go out and give free hugs. But that is not where it originated. Here is some info on the Free Hugs origins (Go to Wikipedia).

Now Vlad is an amazing guy with very inspirational posts. He has a unique way of looking at the world and making it a better place. I have been following him for a while now and decided to shoot him an email asking if he wanted to do a challenge. His response was so great from his posting that we decided to create a challenge – The 90 Day Free Hugs Challenge.

What better way to to start the week with a challenge about peace and love, especially in the recent setting both economic and political (something I stay away from). A serious challenge.

Starting on July 1, 2009, we are trying to get as many people as possible to go out on just one day, to offer as many hugs as possible – for free! Ya have to do it in a public place with strangers. Pretty scary…probably for most of us. You can do this any time over the 90 days. Let’s get thousands of people to sign up and give out millions of hugs.

There are a group of avid mountain climbers that set a goal to climb the 7 summits, the tallest mountain on each of the 7 continents.  Climbing the summit is about reaching your goals and dreams. Each of us can reach our 7 summits, you can climb any mountain and you get a view that you have never seen anywhere else!  I apologize in advance if this post is filled with too many analogies and cliches, but they are designed to encourage and motive.

So what motivates these people? Why do they do it? Though the obvious answer is a love for mountain climbing, a more truthful one, a drive and desire to challenge and achieve. To push boundaries and barriers. To achieve greatness. To try new things and learn new skills. Though seemingly self serving each of these individuals have lessons to teach. In climbing they inspire and can share the secrets of each climb – quite unselfish.

Each of us has a mountain that we want to climb

Some of us are at the bottom of the mountain, while others are close to the peak. Without first making the decision to climb our mountain, we will never reach the summit, let alone 7. This posting is meant to be poignant in the hopes each of you chooses a life goal and discovers value in doing so. Invoke your change and define your summit. When you have completed your peak, share the results and move on to the next challenge. Big or small, don’t be afraid to set lofty goals and attain them one baby step at a time. So reach for the sky, but don’t forget to keep your feet on the ground.

I encourage you all to share this posting with not only the ones you love and cherish but with everyone to create a dominoe effect and spawn excellence. I also request that you share your story and goal with everyone and comment below…then pass it on.

Are you climbing your Mount Everest?

Oh, just so you know, there are so many mountains I want to climb. My immediate mountain is to create & grow a sustainable network of green, ethical and motivational websites that will fulfil my life purpose of sharing knowledge and experiences along the way. My loftier goal is to implement an idea that I know will provide affordable, sustainable, green housing (and living) to the masses. Let me know what your summit is!

Comments are welcome and encouraged. If you liked this post, please to subscribe to the RSS Feed so we can keep you up to date. Our next post – How do you Eat an Elephant? Peaked (sorry) your interest.

Stop Receiving Junk Mail

If you want to free up some of your time and save a few trees along the way then it’s time to figure out how to stop receiving junk mail. Hey it could also free up a bit of your sanity.

Almost half of the junk mail delivered is thrown out and in the US alone, over 100 million trees are needed – each year! Here are a few reasons why you should stop your junk mail.

• save energy – not only the transportation costs but also sorting and other production costs
• tax dollars – the cost of mail for the government is staggering
• time – the average person spends 8 months of their life sorting mail
• landfill – while most municipalities recycle, not everyone chooses to so the landfill adds up

So what can you do then?

1. Get registered to remove yourself from the national mailing list. In Canada you can sign up at the Canadian Marketing Association Do Not Contact Registry to prevent future mailings. In the United States you can visit the Direct Marketing Association. These are the big guns and will reduce the initial bursts of mail dramatically. You must contact them every 5 years.
2. In the United States you can get yourself off of the Credit Card lists by visiting https://www.optoutprescreen.com/ or go to Equifax, TransUnion and Experien via post, telephone or on the web.
3. Stop giving your name and address to any retailers.
4. Call any mail order catalogs you are receiving and ask to be removed.  You can go to Catalog Choice to stop your magazine subscriptions and Newsletters & yes coupons. If you are still interested in the products – join online, all of them have a website.
5. On the topic of websites, each of the companies you frequent has a website – banks, utilities, telecom, etc. Most of them have an option to stop mailings. Calling or writing to them can take this one step further by asking to be removed from any lists – they sell the names for profit. They all have an option to pay online and in Canada you can get ePost Bills from Canada Post.
6. Contact any company directly that gives you junk continually.
7. Adjust your name to track the “culprits” that share your info and then report them.
8. Do not fill out your warranty cards, your receipt is all you need. If they insist, then add a note that says not to share contact info with anyone or not to be put on a mailing list.
9. Services in the US like 41 Pounds (the average junk mail for each citizen) and Tonic Mailstopper offer paid services for very reasonable fees & a free option too.
10. Call your Phone Company and ask to stop receiving that phone book…one of the largest culprits.

There you have it. That should be a pretty good starting point. If you go for the paid option it will save you time and energy but the whole process shouldn’t take more than a few hours of time. Time saved once you don’t have to open, organize and recycle all that mail (you do recycle, don’t you?).

Now here are two bonus tips to dramatically reduce your junk. If you move, only contact and provide new address details to the necessary companies. I’ve moved so much over the years that I’m on very few lists – except for the one my bank sells. Second tip – put a sign on the door/mailbox requesting no flyers and junk mail, almost everyone will honour this.

Awareness Programs also exist like  The Red Dot Campaign in Canada and Forest Ethics in the US. Don’t be afraid to take it a step further and talk to your governement officials. If they don’t see the concern, they won’t do anything to stop junk mail. So, take the time to review a few of the steps and you will be well on your way to stop receiving junk mail.

In an earlier post, I touched upon spring cleaning and living a simple life with less. Here’s one way to start your process of simplifying. Books are hard for many people to let go of. They have a memory and many people define themselves with the books and library that they keep. Some, don’t even read the book, they just keep it unused in the bookshelf, perhaps as a sign of prestige or to keep up an appearance. Simplifying a bookshelf is a challenge for many people.

I used to have thousands of books. Some of them barely used reference books. A large collection of WWII and escape stories, various philosophical and self help and a wide range of others. I had read them all and only a handful of them were ever touched again. The rest….they got touched when I moved and otherwise the dust was building up on them.

Over a decade ago I started to move from location to location. I noticed the boxes of unopened things and realized all the storage and time they were costing me. Dozens of boxes, back breaking to lift and the cost of gas just to get them from door to door was substantial. They took up space in a closet, basement or storage area. No one was getting the opportunity to enjoy the benefit of reading them – the true purpose of a book. Someone should be enjoying them, I thought.

I wanted to reduce the loads and trips and storage space. The books were the place to start. Eventually, it became one of the key catalyst that helped me to simplify other aspects of my life….but today, let’s start with the bookshelf.

Books, music, files, gadgets and sentimental things seem to be the hardest to let go. But let’s look at the reality of it. If you move a lot and have a large book collection there are a number of downsides.

1. They are heavy (quick moving tip use a wine box, it is about the right size and weight)
2. They take up a lot of space
3. The cost to move and ship them is expensive – pound for pound only heavy furniture costs more
4. They often remain in storage (hint – this means you don’t need or use them)
5. They will get damaged over time with many moves
6. You keep buying books (which are expensive now) and that annual total can really add up

Here’s a few ways to reduce your book collection easily and painlessly (or at least with less stress). Don’t decide to get your 2000 books down to 50 overnight. Do it in stages and ask yourself the following:

1. Are these books getting worn? Time to say goodbye.
2. Could someone else be enjoying and using this?
3. Do I refer to this book anymore?
4. Can I use the Internet as a source for info instead?
5. Do I really need to keep my University text books that you last looked at in 1987
6. Is there a charity sale that would benefit a good cause?

Now start small and get rid of a few at a time. Perhaps the old worn out books first. Then target text books and reference books. Pick the ones you know you will never read again or the ones you didn’t like. When you have your next garage sale, post them as “must go” items. You can even put them in a box outside your house with a note “free to a good home” to encourage people to take them. If you want to make a little money on it, then sell them on eBay or have a garage sale.

If you have a large quantity of books in your first attempt to cull, separate them and donate all the texts to a University Bookstore – they may even pay you for them if they are still on the book list. You will also find several bookstores buy used books or will give you a trade in value.This is a good way to start as you can trade 4 books that you have read for one book that you haven’t. Take the remaining books to a charity store.

So, what can you do to ensure that those books don’t start piling up again.

1. When you read a book, start a pile of “trade-ins” – get replacements only when you get rid of the pile
2. Learn to use the library – they have books there, lots of books, you can return them
3. Do you really need the book or can it wait (how many books do you have unread in your house)
4. Tell your friends and family that you are reducing your clutter and don’t need any more books or would prefer a “gift certificate” or consumable item (perhaps your favourite wine) instead

This is just a start. Each time I move or go for an adventure somewhere I go through my books and reduce them. It is down to about 50 books. Some of these are yearbooks & some are green, writing or web reference books that I use but otherwise I only keep a few of my memorable books. A few will be something different for different people, some a couple hundred and some a handful. I know that I can always buy them again. As for reference…I can always find what information I need on the internet.

It’s time to rethink your bookshelf. You can apply this rule to so many other items of your life. Over time it will become second nature. This will eventually lead to a more simple, peaceful and decluttered world. The end result, an abundant and peaceful life can be achieved with the essence of simplicity. Try it – you just might like it.