Buy Nothing Day

Use your power as a consumer to create a better world!

Today is Buy Nothing Day, it is a day to turn our back on the awful obsession with consumerism we have in the United States. The things we purchase put stress on all our resources, water, air, time, energy, and landfills. All the stuff we buy contributes to the climate crisis! Do you really need more junk? Give thanks for what you have and all the people in your life. Be grateful for our beautiful planet, and for all you have. Instead of shopping spend your day outdoors or spend time doing something creative. Instead of shopping for happiness take deep breaths and do something you love. All the state parks in my state are free today, and I’m off for a long walk!

From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, household waste increases by more than 25%. Added food waste, shopping bags, packaging, wrapping paper, bows and ribbons all adds up to an additional 1 million tons a week to our landfills. (Source: EPA

The Story of Stuff – Story of Stuff  

 A consumer is powerful. The choices we make, and what we purchase changes marketing and products, and as consumers we can make a big difference by the choices we make.  These choices can make a positive change on the environment creating a more sustainable world. 

  • Heighten your awareness of packaging and waste, choosing products with minimal or no wasteful plastic packaging. 
  • Always shop with reusable bags. 
  • Never purchase products with glitter or Styrofoam. They can’t be recycled and are harmful to wildlife.
  • Shop reuse stores. Some of my favorite clothes and items come from consignment stores. 
  • Shop bulk items. 
  • Shop in bulkBuying in bulk is a good way to manage food waste, and plastic waste. Bring your own bags or containers. 
  • Shop retailers that pay living wages and are local over big box stores. 
  •  Buy nothing and reuse what you have! 
  •  Purchase items that will last instead of cheap junk. 
  •  Avoid all single-use plastic 
  • Make your own choices and be creative, don’t be owned by corporations like Apple, Target, Amazon etc. 

Celebrate a Day For Happiness

International-Day-of-Happiness“I will try to create more happiness in the world around me”

Thousands of people all around the world are taking action to support the International Day of Happiness.

Let’s create a happier world together

Not everyone, but most of us want to be happy. In 2012 The United Nations declared March 20, the first day of spring, as the International Day of Happiness. So how can you have a happy life?? For some of us it just happens, but for others, it takes some work. I hope you will click on the link below for a little book with suggestions on how to be happy.  I am not discounting anyone with troublesome economic problems.  Some of those economic problems don’t exist in the world’s 2016 happiest country, Denmark. Read about it here.

Happiness suggestions from Actionforhappiness.org

  1. Do things for others and volunteer your time
  2. Take care of your body, go for a walk, eat fruits and vegetables
  3. Pay attention and live your life mind fully
  4. Learn new things, and lose yourself in something you love
  5. Have goals or things to look forward to
  6. Everything won’t go the way you want, but happy people bounce back and are resilient
  7. Look for what is good and smile
  8. Accept yourself, be comfortable with yourself and who you are
  9. Be part of something bigger than just yourself
  10. Get outside and enjoy our world!
 

Please read the happiness book

www.actionforhappiness.org/media/528356/ten_keys_new_guidebook.pdf

Happy spring!  What are your tips to be happier??

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