Share Reasons

Cathy says:

"Here's my take on the Compact 2012. I don't do well with wholesale huge changes in how I do things - way, way too easy to try for a few weeks and then chuck the whole idea. I've learned that I need to take things in small steps since that way I actually create new habits. I've also learned that I need to start with my big goals and then figure out steps to start working toward them.

My personal "big" goals and small steps are:
1. Waste less
- using up what we have before buying something (like using up all those teeny shampoo bottles)
- better menu planning (using up leftovers and all those random vegetables)
2. Have less clutter
- continue the major cleanout we started over the summer (the Goodwill guy at EC Recycling recognizes me...)
- use the library more and buy less books (my personal weakness)
- pay more attention to packaging and try to minimize what comes into the house
- for every new thing that comes in, 2 things need to leave
3. Have my spending follow my values
- supporting local, independent merchants
- support Heifer, Ecology Project, etc as gifts
- give gift certificates for services instead of BigBoxStore credit
4. Overall being more mindful of what we actually need vs what we want."

A Brainstorm at Epworth United Methodist Church produced these statements:

"The compact is challenging us to do some things differently in our lives. Why are we taking this journey? Here are some reasons we’ve come up with:

· This is different—it makes me think in new ways; it gives me a new perspective that I’m carrying with me all the time now.

· I want to help preserve the quality of my granddaughter’s environment

· This helps me develop a perspective that reflects my local and global community

· I want to “simplify” my life and to focus on what’s important.

· I want to work on being creative (like in my gift giving)

· I want to challenge consumptive habits—like finding other things to do with my friends besides shopping

· I want to build community through sharing our resources

· In the US we throw millions of pounds of garbage into our earth each day….and thinking about all the energy and materials that go into making brand new things….I want to see how this compact helps me cut back on what I put into our garbage can each week and how much it helps me reduce my impact on our earth

· Frugality—my grandparents would make do with what they had. I’d like to try that.

· I want to keep my money local—not giving it to big box corporate stores.

· I want to model for our kids that you don’t need to buy stuff to be happy…that there’s lots of alternatives to buying stuff.

· I want to create a “deepening human community”

· I want to be awake to all that I have and to open my life to new possibilities

· I want to nurture my own creativity

· I want to simplify my daily life

· I want to be able to discern the difference between my ‘wants’ and my ‘needs’

· I want to be mindful about and interrupt my habits around consumption.

· I want to clear out the clutter in my life—everything’s jammed up inside!

· Finding used “gems” is a creative process for me.

· I don’t want to get distracted by stuff that isn’t really important

· I want to trust that I can let things go and if I really need something, I’ll be able find it."