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.
2022-- Winter // Spring // Summer // Fall
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*
1028. Feb. 6: Let your love for your beloved bring light to those in darkness. How? "Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked… (Isaiah 58:7) Seek one way to do this as a couple this week.
1029. Feb. 13: What moral code undergirds your marriage? Whether it's commandments, principles, whatever, spend 15 min. talking about your deepest values. What values do you share? Where do you differ? You can spare 15 minutes of your life, can't you?
1030. Feb. 20: Ash Wednesday is Feb. 22. For many, Lent is a season of "giving up." This year consider what new action you are willing to take to deepen your married love.
1031. Feb. 27: Marriage is a mutual improvement society. This can seem self-serving as you try to give feedback to your beloved about how she/he can be a better person. How do you receive critical feedback? Listen with openness more than defensiveness.
*Marriage Moments go out to individuals on Mondays. For Sunday bulletins use the Sunday immediately before the above date.
PARENTING POINTERS*
1027. Feb. 3: Hopefully your family is not hungry, homeless, or without enough clothing. But some are. Talk with your children about how you all might feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, or clothe the naked (Isaiah 58:7) this next week. If nothing else, donate money.
1028. Feb. 10: February is Black History Month. No matter what your skin color, challenge your family to learn more about this part of history. Click here (https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month) to educate yourselves more.
1029. Feb. 17: "Love your enemies." (Mt. 5:44) This doesn't mean you have to agree with an enemy or like them but make the effort to understand him or her. What part of their life led them to be the person they are or take the positions that they do? Listen carefully to their life story.
1030. Feb. 24: Lent has just begun. Is your family doing anything differently? Giving up meat on Fridays or candy on every day but Sundays may be traditional but does it help you love your neighbor better? Maybe it can be a daily prompt to look beyond yourself. Ask your family for feedback about your resolutions.
1032. Mar. 6: March 1 was "World Compliment Day." If you missed it, fine, your spouse may not connect the next compliment you give as a result of this prompt. Look for an authentic quality to compliment your spouse on this week.
1033. Mar. 13: John 9:1-4 focuses on blindness. (Watch for it. 😊) You may already turn a "blind eye" to some of your beloved's faults and annoying habits. Good. That’s progress. Are there any bad habits of your own that need some corrective attention?
1034. Mar. 20: March 20 is the official beginning of Spring. In the northern hemisphere new growth starts to sprout around us. Learn something new about your spouse today - no matter how long you’ve been married.
1035. Mar. 27: Feeling bored or sad? "Do not abandon yourself to sorrow, do not torment yourself with brooding." (Sirach 30:21) There’s plenty of sorrow these days but look for a positive side to misfortune. For example: If I'm sick, maybe I can finally read that book. Try it. You might be a more pleasant person to be around.
*Marriage Moments go out to individuals on Mondays. For Sunday bulletins use the Sunday immediately before the above date.
PARENTING POINTERS*
1031. Mar. 3: Yesterday, March 2, was Dr. Seuss' birthday. You’re never too old or too late to reread a favorite Dr. Seuss book. Try it. Share it with a child.
1032. Mar. 10: In Jesus' day Jews and Samaritans were not friends but Jesus strikes up a conversation with a Samaritan woman (John 4:5-42). Sometimes it helps to reach out beyond our friends. As a family, seek out someone you might not normally encounter – perhaps someone of a different race or economic status than yourselves. Say “Hi.” If possible, strike up a conversation.
1033. Mar. 17: Today is St. Patrick's Day. St. Patrick purportedly explained the mystery of the Trinity by using a shamrock. Which person of the Trinity – Father (creator), Son (redeemer), or Holy Spirit (sustainer) do you most identify with? Ask your child the same question. Is there anything mysterious about your child that you are still trying to understand?
1034. Mar.24: Spring is a transitional season between cold and hot. What temperature does each person in your family prefer? Perhaps have some fun dressing up for an inside evening adding or taking off clothes to pretend it's an extremely cold or hot day.
1035. Mar. 31: Parenting can be time consuming and stressful – especially if you are juggling a job and/or volunteer work. What are the "time bandits" in your famil's life? (TV, e-mail, sports, commuting). Discuss if you can reduce some time commitments to create some fun time together.
*Parenting Pointers go out to individuals on Fridays. For Sunday bulletins, use the closest Friday.
PARENTING POINTERS* c--ting Pointers go out to individuals on Fridays. For Sunday bulletins, use the closest Friday.
ECO-TIPS
54. Feb.6: FINANCIAL
EASY: Research an environmental organization such as Sierra Club, Climate Reality Project, Pachamama Alliance, Greenpeace, Citizens Climate Lobby, Project Drawdown... and make a donation.
CHALLENGING: Become involved in one of the above environmental groups. Bonus: Support it through investing in stocks and bonds.
55. Feb.13: WATER
EASY: Wash dishes and laundry on a full load.
CHALLENGING: Install a system at your home to capture and store rainwater.
56. Feb.20: EDUCATE
EASY: Tell a neighbor, friend, or co-worker about a green practice you’ve been doing.
CHALLENGING: Write articles/stories for newsletters or your local paper to help others get in touch with possible actions they can take to further environmental sustainability.
57. Feb.27: ENERGY
EASY: When possible, use a microwave, toaster oven, or slow cooker rather than an oven/range to save energy.
CHALLENGING: If you’ve already calculated your carbon footprint and are ready to reduce it further, consider a professional energy audit of your home to improve energy efficiency. For info click here. (https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/professional-home-energy-assessments)
58. Mar. 6: PLASTIC
EASY: Newspapers often come wrapped in plastic bags. If you don’t have a dog or other use for the bag, most grocery stores have recycling bins for such plastic film since it can’t go in curbside recycling.
CHALLENGING: If your local grocery store still uses plastic bags, join or start a plastic bag free movement in your area. Past Plastics-Cincinnati Coalition (https://www.facebook.com/cincypastplastic/) is an example.
59. Mar. 13: TRANSPORTATION
EASY: Take public transportation or carpool when possible.
CHALLENGING: Reduce air travel. Online meetings have helped with decreasing air travel but consider that optional car travel (like vacations) might have a beneficial side effect of exploring the land and communities along the way.
60. Mar. 20: EDUCATE YOURSELF
EASY: Read the Introduction to Laudato Si’. (https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.pdf) It’s only 6 pages😊.
CHALLENGING: Commit to reading the whole document (72 pages) over the next 6 months. Perhaps ask a friend to accompany you in this reading. I'll give you some tips over the next few months.
61. Mar. 27: CLOTHING
EASY: Clothing, particularly petroleum based garments, are often treated with flame retardant chemicals (PFAS). Learn ways to “greenify” your closet here, (https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2020-6-november-december/taste-test/smart-ways-greenify-your-closet)
CHALLENGING: Get involved in your local fibershed community! (https://fibershed.org/)
TO EDUCATORS, LEADERS, & MINISTERS:
I offer you these Eco-Tips as a resource for those you serve.
My own faith tradition is Catholic and thus Pope Francis' teaching in Laudato Si' inspired these ways of Living Laudato Si'. Of course caring for creation transcends religions and is indeed a universal undertaking. It cannot be done alone.
You are welcome to reprint these in bulletins, newsletters, and on your website with the credit, "By Susan Vogt, www.SusanVogt.net"
For related articles go to my Living Lightly Blog: www.SusanVogt.net/blog
Since those we reach may be in many different places regarding environmental efforts, I offer 2 options each week:
EASY: Some of us are just starting to awaken to the need to care for creation, or have been busy with jobs, raising a family, or other social justice commitments. We may not have much discretionary time. OR, it may simply be a relief to note, "Hey, I’m already doing this one!" Good.
CHALLENGING: Others have been engaged in the environmental movement for awhile and are ready to take a bigger step. To multiply our efforts, we are called to go beyond our own personal lifestyle, and to make bigger, systemic changes. Consider how to impact change in our neighborhoods, cities, country, the world.
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Peace, Gerald 'Jerry' Iversen, Chief SLW! Activist
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