This complete digest, formerly posted monthly, is now updated at least weekly. It contains posts from both SLW! and other simple living sources.The SLW! Monthly Nudge/Blog/eNews (focus on SLW!) comes as a free subscription to SLW! Blog (When you arrive, click +Follow in lower right, add your email address, then confirm when email arrives.) The free Daily Nudges is available by email -- send SUBSCRIBE to SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com -- or by Twitter @GeraldIversen.
In This Issue:
What's been happening on my Living Lightly blog lately.
How Much Is Enough? Part 2 - What household stuff do you and I hang on to 'just in case'?
Uber Recycling #5 - Reviewing some recycling basics and adding a few you may not have tried yet
Lightening Your Heart #2 - Check out the 6 ways I avoid being a 'Debbie Downer.' Do any of these work for you? What's our PLANET got to do with it?
Wondering What Is True - One person's fake news is another person's truth. How to tell the difference.
What Is Mine To Do? - As Lent began, I had a 4 point plan. Do any of my resolutions match yours?
Going Into Hiding - Looking behind, underneath, and inside to find what's hiding
MARRIAGE MOMENTS*
993. June 6: Pentecost: “If you love me…” (John 14:15) Jesus says these words to his disciples (his family) on Pentecost. But spouses often say this to each other also – “If you love me, you would…” Don’t turn your love into a bargain. Give it freely to each other and keep your word.
994. June 13: What sacrifice has your marriage called you to make for your beloved, i.e., moving, putting your career on hold, changing an annoying habit? How can you die (just a little) to your own needs today to give life to your spouse or children? Do it generously, not begrudgingly.
995. June 20: “Taking the five loaves and the two fish…Jesus said the blessing…and gave them to the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied.” (Luke 9:16) Hopefully you eat dinner together most days. Ponder how you nourish each other both with food and kindness.
996. June 27: Sometimes the strife in our world can feel heavy and burdensome. (Think Ukraine, political divisiveness, even family arguments). May the love that you carry for each other prompt you to find one act you can do to relieve someone else’s suffering this week.
*Marriage Moments go out to individuals on Mondays. For Sunday bulletins use the Sunday immediately before the above date.
PARENTING POINTERS*
992. June 3: Pentecost: “Jesus came and stood in their midst.” (John 20:19) Church is a holy place but so are our homes and the people we live with. Consider how Jesus may come, stand, sit, and play with us as we spend time together today. Peace & love often sound like cliches. Help it to come alive with your children this weekend.
993. June 10: June 14 is flag day in the USA. Perhaps you already fly the flag proudly. Perhaps you sometimes feel discouraged about your country’s lack of equality. Talk with your family about what makes you proud of your country and what would make it even better.
994. June 17: “Taking the five loaves and the two fish…Jesus said the blessing…and gave them to the crowd. They all ate.” (Luke 9:16) Hopefully your family says a blessing before eating. “Communion” happens not only in Church but when you eat together. Try saying something kind to the “communion of saints” sitting at your table this weekend.
995. June 24: What clutters your home? Maybe you have many mementos of happy trips together. Maybe you have some tools, toys, clothes that are not being used. This week, ask your family to take a half day or hour to identify some clutter in a room or a drawer? Do something positive with it. Give it away, recycle it, or if it's really useless, dispose of it responsibly.
ECO-TIPS
19. June 6: ENERGY
EASY: Run full loads in your dishwasher, washer, and dryer (or be adventurous and dry your sheets and other flat items on a clothes line.)
CHALLENGING: If possible, transition to renewable energy - Solar, Wind, or Geothermal
Bonus: Consider installing one of these in a school, house of worship, office building.
20. June 13: CLOTHING
EASY: Take care of the clothes you already have. Buy only the clothes you need.
CHALLENGING: Purchase clothing made of natural fibers. Avoid petroleum-based fabrics such as nylon, polyester, and fleece.
21. June 20: TRANSPORTATION
EASY: Drive less; walk/bike more. (This doubles as exercise so you don’t need a gym.)
CHALLENGING: Consider a car-free day once a week. (Maybe once a month?)
22. June 27: EDUCATE YOURSELF
EASY: Subscribe to environmental news like YES magazine, Sierra Club. Read (or re-read) Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’ (https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html)
CHALLENGING: Learn about the practices of indigenous people. What native Americans originally occupied your part of the country?
#14. May 2: ENERGY
EASY: Calculate your carbon footprint. Two free ways are available here (https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/) and here (https://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx)
CHALLENGING: Reduce your carbon footprint by 5%.
#15. May 9: NATURE
EASY: Plant something. Anything will count, but a seed or seedling that will grow into a food is ideal.
CHALLENGING: Organize a campaign to clean up and take care of a public green space in your neighborhood or town.
#16. May 16: GIFTS
EASY: Make cards instead of buying them or perhaps send an e-card. Personalizing the card is a gift in itself.
CHALLENGING: Wrap a gift in a paper bag and decorate it. Maybe use comics from the newspaper, etc. Re-use wrapping paper, boxes, or bags from prior years. You keep these don’t you. 😊
#17. May 23: FOOD
EASY: When possible, patronize farmer’s markets and buy fresh products in season.
CHALLENGING: Join a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) group. Google “CSA” to find one near your home.
#18. May 30: PLASTIC
EASY: When ordering take-out food for home, remind the vendor that you don’t need plastic cutlery. They can skip the napkin too since presumably you have some at home.
CHALLENGING: If you’re not taking your carry out food home, keep a spork (combined spoon, fork, knife) or metal cutlery set with you so you can still “Skip the Stuff” that’s plastic.
MARRIAGE MOMENTS*
988. May 2: Many religions have times of fasting (Christians-Lent, Jews-Yom Kippur, Hindus-Navratis). Perhaps less known is that May 2 is Eid al Fitre, the day that Muslims break their Ramadan fast. Whether or not you are religious, fasting can awaken your appreciation for food. Today awaken your affection for your beloved. Maybe have a special “break-fast” together.
989. May 9: This year Mother’s Day and Good Shepherd Sunday both fall on May 8. So, what do sheep and mothers have to do with marriage? Perhaps it’s about taking care of another. Of course, neither of you are sheep or a child, but seek out a fun way to care for your beloved today.
990. May 16: “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” (John 13:34) Easy to say. Hard to do. Remember that Jesus’ love for humanity brought him to the crucifixion. Ponder what each of you might sacrifice for the other this week.
991. May 23: Natural or national disasters can bring out the best in humanity as we rally to help those in need. A marriage crisis can also prompt a couple to sacrifice for each other or honestly deal with a recurring problem. Don’t wait for a disaster, however, to test your love. Prevention is better.
992. May 30: Does your spouse ever “go nuclear” on you, i.e. suddenly blow up over nothing? Although there’s no excuse for abuse, sometimes it helps to note what triggered the explosion: Remember. Defuse the trigger. Substitute a better response.
*Marriage Moments go out to individuals on Mondays. For Sunday bulletins use the Sunday immediately before the above date.
PARENTING POINTERS*
988. May 6: May 2-8 is Screen Free Week.(https://www.screenfree.org/resources-for-families-individuals/) It’s not too late to celebrate by taking a break from TV, video games, or phone apps. Check out these resources for families. Go outside. Make your own fun.
989. May 13: “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress.” (Rev. 7:14) During these past years of pandemic, you and your children have probably experienced significant changes and stress. Our whole world has. Share what has been hardest but also something positive you’ve learned from the experience.
990. May 20: What does it mean to fly? – not in an airplane but to, almost magically, lift off the ground. May 26 is Ascension Thursday. Talk to your child about lifting up their spirit to God – in prayer, by doing a favor for someone… Maybe fly a kite or watch some birds together to connect with Jesus’ Ascension.
991. May 27: It’s not Christmas but there are still important gifts of words your family can give each other – Say a genuine, unexpected “I love you.” Tell each one something they do that makes you proud. Recognize something that each one is good at.
*Parenting Pointers go out to individuals on Fridays. For Sunday bulletins, use the closest Friday.
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Peace, Gerald 'Jerry' Iversen, Chief SLW! Activist
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