No. 32: Returning to our roots?
A tranquil, yet still political issue to ring in the New Year!
Hi again! It’s a new year, which likely means you have set some sort of resolution/goal/alternative. (Reading more, growing this newsletter, adding more sustainable habits, are mine!) Comment below what that consists of for you! :)
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Slow living, what it is, + its origin
What is it, and why do I feel the need to transcend to this very ideal?
In simple terms, it’s unlearning fast-based, convenient, “go-go-go” life, and settling for patience, time, and effort into everyday living.
First introduced in the 1980s, this Italian ‘slow food movement’ is based in the philosophy of sustainability, reuniting the product with the consumer; expelling the middleman divide between growers and consumers.
“Slow Food’s aim, in a nutshell, is to protect local, traditional foods in the face of fast food and consumerism, and encourage people to reconnect with the food they eat” (Great Italian Chefs).
This slow shift away from fast food and consumerism, a truly American ideal which has quickly spread globally, set the scene for a resurgence of mindfulness and anti-consumerism.
Today, this movement of slow living, with similar ties to traditional Indian culture, has developed far past its origins, today reminding us of meaning in our lives that we often miss, preoccupied by school, jobs, stress of being alive, and all societal pressures *cough cough consumerism*.
Think back to mid March of 2020. That time spent inside, with no need to commute, travel, or physically enter the classroom allowed us all to reconnect with our loved ones, whether in person or online, try a new recipe, or finally clean out that hall closet, intentional living reentered the vast majority of our lives. Not to dismiss the fear of the unknowing we felt while we faced a global pandemic, but there was value to who we became in those short (or longer, if your country actually took the pandemic seriously) months.
To conclude, while slow, intentional living may make those in the corporate world shudder, it is important to ask ourselves (me, included) if our current habits and approaches to life are positively impacting us. I know I’ve deleted Instagram three times now, with the hope I can rid myself of its captivating woes, but it doesn’t last.
Via, the EcoWatch, they recommend introducing slow living into your live by adopting these habits:
Limit screen time. Set timers on social media to limit your hours.
Take walks outdoors and exercise in ways that are more integrated with your daily life, like walking or biking instead of driving. Enjoy the process of getting from point to point rather than moving as quickly as possible.
Deliberately take days off from work and home tasks, either on the weekend or on vacation.
Grow food and cook meals, especially with family or friends, and eat together at the table.
Enjoy and nurture your hobbies.
Fix items in your home instead of replacing them, including clothes, furniture, etc.
Prioritize sleep.
Choose the activities you want to engage in. Resist saying yes to every opportunity out of a sense of obligation.
Reach out to your neighbors and work on building a strong community around you.
After all, it’s a new year, which means it’s the perfect time to heighten your expectations of the best person you could be! (Or at least that’s what society tells us!)
Further reading:
Other sources: Sloww
Check out…
The Climate Struggle Literally Hit Home in 2022 (Wired)
The Green & Salty Calendar! With national holidays, anniversaries of important causes, and more! Bookmark this digital copy or write them down in a physical calendar. (Will likely be updated throughout 2023)
Lake Mead’s receding waters revealed long-lost bodies. But who are they? (The Guardian)
Tesla’s Electric Monster Truck Complicates Elon Musk’s Climate Commitment (Forbes)
Good climate news!
Lula appoints Amazon activist in cabinet role - Previously elected president in Brazil, Lula, who was sworn in yesterday, strongly in favor of forest protection, appointed Marina Silva, well-known Brazilian environmentalist as the minister of environment.
Amidst the climate crisis, the case for hope is getting stronger -
People are waking up to the fact that we are redistributing wealth to the few, driving an extinction event, obliterating natural habitat and destabilizing our planet’s life support systems.
With this new awareness, many changes are underway. A growing number of people are motivated to buy electric vehicles, install solar panels and improve the energy efficiency of their home or business. People of all ages, without any past experience in activism, are joining protest marches and volunteering for political movements calling for a green and just transition. New leadership is emerging.
Clean technologies are rapidly being developed to replace a global energy system that requires burning and polluting. Renewable energy is now cost-competitive and a great investment opportunity.
8 ways to be more sustainable in 2023*
That are actually effective and worthwhile!
Start composting. I am definitely not an expert, so I recommend reading
, specifically visiting the 101 Compost page. If you aren't able to compost due to lack of space or otherwise, check if there's a food waste collection in your city or consider a local composting service (of which can be pricey).Buy less. Possibly the hardest on this list, just because living in a place like the U.S. or another developed country thrives on capitalism. My tips? 1) unsubscribe from marketing emails, and 2) declutter your space, it will always make your realize how much you already have.
Run a trash audit. I’m no zero waste queen (which is literally impossible fyi… I’m sure you can guess why), but just checking what you dispose of (recyclables and otherwise) is a great way to review what you could use less of. While I don’t have access to zero waste bulk groceries, I try to remember produce bags and opt for cardboard/paper over plastic, but don’t stress! (Great video here about why glass isn’t as sustainable as you thought!)
Check your city’s recycling guidelines. It’s important to do this so you’re not “wishcycling” (recycling items in hopes they’re recyclable) and avoiding contaminating recyclable materials. While TerraCycle exists and allows you to recycle less accessible recyclable items, its impact is arguably not worthwhile, and switching to bamboo toothbrush heads or a safety razor is much more impactful once you finish the prior products. You can also try eco-bricking, mentioned in No. 1.
Support local and in-season. Shopping your local farmers’ market and in-season produce are options of this.
Eat less meat/animal products. First of all, I realize how subjective diets/eating habits are, but even eating one less day of meat has a huge impact! View the chart below for more details.
When shopping, prioritize secondhand. The readers that know me know what I have from the dumpster and thrift stores, but there are more options than just that! Poshmark, eBay, Depop, refurbished, and Facebook Marketplace, to name a few.
Create positive change in your community. Okay, so this one might take effort, but aren’t meaningful connections worth it? See if there’s a BuyNothing group in your area, or start one, and get to know your neighbors! Back in 2020, my neighborhood started elevenses, a British tradition of meeting everyday at eleven to catch up (that’s how we interpreted it). Now it’s just Saturdays, but it’s allowed us to make meaningful connections!
* I was going to do 23, but I wrote too much so I figured I’d stop at 8… ;)
Wrap-up
If you’d like to hear more about slow living in future issues, like this post (bottom left hand corner) or comment below!
Love this issue! So many great reminders. Thank you!