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Goleman advocates that we take our role as consumers seriously in three ways: 1) Get the information and know the ecological impacts of the things we buy; 2) Favor the eco-friend- ly improvements that companies make to their products; and 3) Share that information. Widespread individual support for sustainable alternatives, says Goleman, “That’s what’s going to give it the magnitude that can actually shift market share.” On websites like GoodGuide.
Bountiful Harvest,
Giving Thanks by C. M. Rose
Artist C. Michele Rose shares the following about her newest image, Bountiful Harvest, Giving Thanks, “Painting this image I had the sense of being surrounded by luscious abun- dance, rejoicing in and amid the bounty, giving thanks for the Flow that I feel all around me. This place of gratitude is such a buoyant space, en- livening and inspiring me. By spend- ing time with this painting, it is my intention that the viewer will enjoy a glimpse/drink of this most enriching energy of thanksgiving as well and feel better for it.”
Akin to keeping a gratitude journal where we regularly write about what we are grateful for, Rose feels that painting from the space of gratitude can also accomplish the same end. “By painting from this space, I find myself reveling in the awareness of all that is indeed good in life and in turn, becoming filled to overflowing with positive energy to share. The first person to see this painting, immedi- ately interpreted its energy as that of ‘abundance,’ which tells me that I ac- complished my task in conveying the painted intention!”
To view other painted “focal point” images by C. M. Rose, visit cmrose. com. For more information, call 239- 430-3594.
12 Tucson
com and
StoryOfStuff.com, we can check on the product life-cycle of everything from cosmetics and bottled water to the electronic gadgets we might be considering as holiday gifts.
“Instead of buying new clothes, make over your matching wardrobe by recombining and re-ac- cessorizing what’s in your closet—and have fun with the remixing process.”
~ Charlene Snyder, style consultant
It’s bound to be a balancing act, unless we elect to forego shopping altogether. For example, for an e-reader, Goleman counsels, “You’d need to drive to a store 300 miles away to create the equivalent in toxic impacts on health of making one e-reader— but you might do that and more if you drive to the mall every time you buy a new book.”
Goleman hopes that such infor- mation will lead us to make informed decisions by using our buying power to show companies the direction they need to take to meet a growing, enlightened demand. As we enthuse to our friends about how well the naturally scented soy candles on our holiday buffet table performed, they might also seek them out, and then tell others. Friends might want a fair
trade tablecloth of their own when we gather around one at a dinner party and explain how paying fair wages helps improve labor conditions and supports the local economy of the arti- sans’ village in India. Concludes Goleman, “As market share shifts, all of a sudden within companies, the grounds of the debate shifts, because now, doing the right thing is synonymous with capturing market. Doing good is the same as do- ing well.”
Cultivating Feel-Good Shopping Simplicity
Duane Elgin, author of the land- mark Voluntary Simplicity, observes, “Simplicity that is consciously chosen, deliberate and intentional, supports a higher quality of life. In reality, it is consumerism that offers lives of sacri- fice, whereas simplicity offers lives of opportunity.”
Although every holiday celebra- tion requires some sort of shopping— even for the most voluntarily simple lifestyle—a new outlook can put our time and money where it does the most good for everyone—including us. In Less Is More, authors Cecile An- drews and Wanda Urbanska detail the types of simplicity thinking that can streamline our shopping and make us feel good, as we do good. Here’s a synopsis:
UNCLUTTERED. Less stuff translates to a more peaceful, serene home environment. Instead of buying a knickknack, why not get creative? Paying for an hour of a home-staging expert’s time to give a friend or family member’s abode a fresh look—using their own things—achieves the aim of effecting change without adding stuff.
CIVIC. Giving money to civic organi- zations helps the broader community and can simplify gift-giving. Com- ments Leah Ingram, author of Sud- denly Frugal, “I recall my daughter’s long-ago first grade teacher telling us on back-to-school night that she didn’t need any presents at the holidays, and instead, would we please buy board games for the class. That was a
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