I’m all about the individual. I firmly believe that if every individual did as much as they could to be true to themselves, their families, and took as much care of their bodies, homes and planet as much as they took care of their cars and ipods, the world would, little by little, begin to be a much healthier, happier place. Oftentimes this view tends to give me a doomsday feeling, that such a change is absolutely impossible, that the world is wrapped up in triviality and that we are all heading straight for extinction. Then I sigh and realize it again comes down to the individual. I can only do the best I can for me and mine. And hopefully along the way I will touch the lives of my fellow humans in a positive way. Last night I read this passage, and it really spoke to me, so I thought I’d share.

From Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin:

    “…Many choosing a life of conscious simplicity are reasserting their capacity for citizenship and entrepreneurship. In turn, the traditional polarity of liberal and conservative (concerned primarily with the role and power of big government versus big business) is shifting toward another polarity-that of concern for the individual to determine his or her fate relative to the enormous power of both big government and big business. Traditional political and economic perspectives fail to recognize the most radical change of all in a free market economy and democratic society: the empowerment of individuals to consciously take charge of their own lives and to begin making changes in their manner of work, patterns of consumption, forms of governance, modes of communications and much more. This way of life does not represent a withdrawal from the world. Some may mistake the unwillingness of this forerunner group to participate in the aggressive exploitation of resources, the environment, and other members of the human family as a retreat from the world. Yet, far from withdrawal, a path of conscious simplicity promotes our innate involvement with life. With conscious and direct involvement comes clarity. With clarity comes insight. With insight comes love. With love comes mutually helpful living. With mutually helpful living a flourishing world civilization is made possible. Rather than abandoning the world, those choosing a life of conscious simplicity are pioneering a new civilizing process.”

See to some people, conscious simplicity means giving up meat. Or rebuilding their home with solar panels and recycled materials. Or living in a Yurt in the middle of the forest. And that’s great. But to others its as simple as sorting their recycling every week. Or driving past the McDonald’s and going home to prepare grilled cheese and tomato soup instead. Or working part time in order to have more time to pursue their passions and learning to live with less money. Each action is radical in its own way. And each of these actions, in whatever small way, works toward establishing a more harmonious existence for everyone on the planet. It can be pretty eye opening to look at the way you live your life and account for the choices you make. So, what do you do?