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*
1010. Oct. 3: October is Domestic Violence Month. Hopefully violence does not directly impact your marriage, but perhaps you are called to help someone else - a neighbor, relative, or stranger. Click the Domestic Violence hotline (https://www.thehotline.org/) to find out how to help.
1011. Oct. 10: "Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" (Luke 17:19) Don't be a stranger to your spouse. Say one new thing to thank each other for today?
1012. Oct. 17: Who married you? No, you don't have to remember the priest's name for "the spouses, as ministers of Christ's grace, manifesting their consent before the Church, confer the sacrament of marriage on one another." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1623) Resolve to be a worthy minister today.
1013. Oct. 24: Need one more national holiday? Probably not. But Oct. 24 is "Take Back Your Time Day." It's about work/life balance and marriages can use this as much as workaholics. Talk with your beloved about how you use your "free" time. Do something fun together today.
1014. Oct. 31: (Halloween) What scares you about your marriage or your beloved? (That you might fall out of love? That your spouse might die before you? That you might not have enough money?...) Share your deepest and/or trivial fears. Talking about them can bring you closer.
*Marriage Moments go out to individuals on Mondays. For Sunday bulletins use the Sunday immediately before the above date.
PARENTING POINTERS*
1010. Oct. 7: Jesus healed 10 lepers but only 1 returned and thanked Him. (Luke 17:11-19) Although few people see lepers today, it's always worth thanking our family members and God for an act of kindness. Do it today.
1011. Oct. 14: October is Respect Life Month. As a parent, I assume you speak respectfully to your children and they to you. Respecting life also means valuing all human life -- especially the lives of the weak, the vulnerable, the unborn, the poor, even those with whom we disagree. With political speech becoming less civil, let your children hear you speak respectfully even of those you disagree with.
1012. Oct. 21: Oct. 24 is United Nations Day. These days it may feel like our world is more divided politically than united. Why not challenge your family to learn about one unfamiliar nation. What do we share in common and how are we different from the people in the nation you chose?
1013. Oct. 28: Does your home need cleaning? One person’s clutter in another’s treasure. Ask each member of your family to choose at least one personal possession to give to someone in need. Click my Living Lightly blog (https://www.susanvogt.net/blog/) if you need ideas.
MARRIAGE MOMENTS
1006. Sept. 5: (Labor Day) Isn't it ironic that Labor Day is a day when many adults get OFF work. However sweet your love for each other may be, the work of love takes no holiday. Do a favor for your honey today. Open a door, get a cold drink, watch the kids unbidden. It needn't be major, just do it.
1007. Sept. 12: 21 years ago on 9/11/01, terrorists attacked the USA. It was a frightening time. How do you and your beloved deal with fear? Fear of loss of income, health, death…? How do you comfort each other? What is frightening you today? Talk about it.
1008. Sept. 19: "It is my wish that…all should pray…without anger or argument." (1 Timothy 2:8). I don’t know of any marriage that has not had time(s) of anger or argument. Can you remember your last argument? Is it time to ask for forgiveness, pray, and let it go?
1009. Sept. 26: "Woe to the complacent…" (Amos 6: 1) Sometimes in marriage we settle into a comfortable routine – Fine. But sometimes that routine morphs into boredom. Does your marriage need a change of pace to refresh it? OR, Maybe you've had enough excitement lately and you just need to chill. Decide together.
*Marriage Moments go out to individuals on Mondays. For Sunday bulletins use the Sunday immediately before the above date.
PARENTING POINTERS*
1005. Sept. 2: "I, Paul, an old man... on behalf of my child Onesimus... send my own heart back to you." (Philemon 9-10). For parents, so much of our energy and "heart" goes into caring for our child(ren). It doesn't matter if the child is biological, foster, adoptive. Children call us to love more deeply.
1006. Sept. 9: Next Sunday, Sept. 11, is Grandparents Day. Join with your children in telling your (or their) grandparents how much they mean to you. Grandparents are the carriers of history. Ask them what they’ve learned and how the world has changed. Listen. If they are no longer living, talk with them in prayer.
1007. Sept. 16: "God doesn’t ask us to be successful, only faithful." (Mother Teresa) As a parent of course we want to raise successful children, BUT, what does it mean to be successful? Does it mean rich, famous, kind, Christian... Talk with your child(ren) about what they think success would look like for them.
1008. Sept. 23: "There was a rich man...and lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus." (Luke 16:19-20) Is your family rich or poor? It probably depends on who you compare yourself to. Talk with your child about how you might help someone poorer than you.
1009. Sept. 30: Is your child a "neatnik" or a "clutter-bug"? The latter is usually harder to live with. Is it time to ne.gotiate age appropriate clean-up practices? Everyone old enough to walk can share in making a household a home. Got this covered? Good. If not, call a Family Meeting.
*Parenting Pointers go out to individuals on Fridays. For Sunday bulletins, use the closest Friday.
ECO-TIPS
36. Oct. 3: REDUCE/REUSE/RECYCLE
EASY: At home, avoid using paper, plastic, and Styrofoam plates, cups, and utensils.
CHALLENGING: Propose reducing/eliminating paper, plastic, and Styrofoam plates, cups, and utensils at your workplace, where you shop, school, factory
37. Oct. 10: TRANSPORTATION
EASY: Keep reusable water bottle/coffee mug, shopping bags in car
CHALLENGING: Drive a fuel-efficient vehicle such as a hybrid or electric car.
38. Oct. 17: WATER
EASY: Take a short shower rather than a bath, and shower less often
CHALLENGING: Install a solar water heating unit.
39. Oct. 24: CLOTHING
EASY: What clothes are 'best' to wear and purchase? The ones you already have
CHALLENGING: Buy less, skip the trendy fast fashion! Think about purchasing high quality and lasting items.
40. Oct. 31: RECYCLING GLASS
EASY: Generally, clean glass bottles and jars can be recycled in most curbside recycling programs. Do it. (The metal lid can also be recycled but remove it from the jar.)
CHALLENGING: Drinking glasses, light bulbs, mirrors, window glass are generally not accepted in curbside programs. Recycle light bulbs through hardware stores like Home Depot or Lowes. Donate mirrors to a thrift store. Become a recycling expert for your community by googling ways to recycle specialized glass products.
32. Sept 5: COOLING & HEATING -- Part 1
EASY: AC & Heating: In the summer avoid AC until it’s 78°; In winter try to wait til the temperature is under 68° inside to turn on the heat.
CHALLENGING: Invest in a programable thermostat to make these changes easy so you don’t cool or heat your home when no one is there.
33. Sept. 12: COOLING & HEATING -- Part 2
EASY: Buy a ceiling fan. In warm weather run it counter-clockwise to cool. In cold weather run it clockwise to force warm air down into the living space.
CHALLENGING: Reduce or eliminate the use of home air-conditioning. Substitute fans or a whole house fan if possible.
34. Sept. 19: WATER
EASY: Do not let water run while doing tasks.
CHALLENGING: Install low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators.
35. Sept. 26: SPIRITUALITY
EASY: Reflection #1: Take some time to reflect on the past month. What worked? What didn't? What did you learn about living environmentally sustainably?
CHALLENGING: Reflection #2: Every action has consequences. Become aware of the outcome of your actions, reduce your impact on others, and walk lightly on Earth. Consider these practices to be a spiritual discipline.
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Peace, Gerald 'Jerry' Iversen, Chief SLW! Activist
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