By participating in these challenges and sharing them with others you are spreading the message. Over time, those around us will be making better choices as well. The goal is not to change how you live your life, but rather think about the implications of those choices and tweek them for the best outcome.
JANUARY CHALLENGE: CLEAR A SHELF
Often times we get caught up in all the stuff. The kind of stuff that we want, the stuff we don't want, and all the stuff in between. Before you know it, your home and your life is full of stuff. There was a time I had a strong conviction to live with only what I could put in my car. That is how I moved to Texas. There was freedom in that kind of living, although a therapist would probably say it had more to do with fear of grounding than being able to pick up at a moment's notice. Today I can no longer carry my home in my car, and that comes with a lot of guilt. One does not need this stuff, but where do you draw the line between living life and living sustainably?
I've referred to this book before but it's a truly interesting concept. In Radical Simplicity by Dan Price he demonstrates how to live with just his basic needs. Anything that does not fit into the basics isn't in his possession.
food | water | shelter | fuel | clothing
A bit radical, I admit, but it's a start, and something to think about for this month's challenge. What are your basic needs? Define them before moving on. They can include categories such as crafts, technology, books (knowledge), etc. What do you need to live your life every day?
Since January is the dead of winter, and believe or not, is the season for cleansing and rebirth, this challenge is designed to focus on just that; cleansing. This month I encourage you to purge your mental and physical belongings that are only weighing you down. Clean out the pantry, your closet, your makeup bag, the attic or storage closet but don't throw anything away. Ask yourself this question when going through your things? Does this item meet my basic needs? If it doesn't fit, it doesn't stay.
The Rules:
1. If you have the time, sort through everything I listed above and then some. The goal is to at least clear a shelf.
2. Don't throw anything away! This is a 4(for) green acres challenge after all. Utilize Craig's list or ebay to sell items, figure out what you can recycle, or give items to local charities and other organizations. The trash can is the absolute last resort.
While I most likely will never live as radical as Dan Price, I believe in his point that life shouldn't be all about the stuff. Living a 4(for) green acres life is being to look around at the beauty and not about material possession. That's what makes this month's challenge so interesting. But I must warn you; Opportunities manifest themselves when you clear the clutter. You are making way for change.
"when you're willing to give something up the rewards are always way more interesting than what you had." ~Dan Price
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