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A Day of This and That

As the founder of the discussion group Sustainable Living here in Dalby, I had my first interview with the local online newspaper, Dalby Champions.  And it went well, I think.  Being my first interview, I am a bit nervous about seeing my ideas interpreted and written by someone else, out there for people to read.  And I've been thinking since then about what Sustainable Living is and what it means to me.

It's the small choices made on a daily basis.  When I first started looking for a better life, a happier life, a life less cluttered, and more meaningful; I found books to read (Simple Living, Radical Homemakers), blogs to read (Non-Consumer Advocate, Down to Earth),  and other people's routines to use (Flylady).

I was so inspired that I had found my people!  And I was going to do it all!  I was doing the daily cleaning routines, washing my hair with baking soda followed by a white vinegar rinse, de-cluttering my house, baking bread from scratch, buying everything we needed (and quite a bit we didn't) at the thrift stores, and raising chickens!  But at the same time, I was overwhelmed by it all.  It was too much.

Flash forward about 6 years later to this morning, and I've found my own way.  I've settled into my own version of the routines that saved me from CHAOS (can't have anyone over syndrome).  I've found my own pace of living which isn't so hectic.  And I'm not tackling the really big projects, but I am doing a little bit each day.

Today, I'll be doing some mending (replacing a zipper, hemming a pair of pants, and repairing DD's dress), some baking (banana and blueberry muffins), vacuuming, updating the budget, mixing up a fresh batch of cocoa mix, and playing.

I've learned that change comes about in small steps and that I don't have to do it all at once.  I've found a calm which has replaced frantic.  It all gets done, one bit at a time.

What small steps are you taking today?
What seeds are you planting for the future you envision?

Thanks for stopping in and reading today.  I'd love to hear from you.
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Comments

  1. Shari Burke13 July, 2014

    It's great that you learned enough about the stuff you were interested in as well as yourself and what you want/need in your life to be able to adapt all of the things you learned to your own particular circumstances and to be able to choose what to keep and what to let go of. And in the future, you might drop some stuff and pick up others. having that foundation allows you to adapt to whatever circumstance you find yourself in!!

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  2. Ann14 July, 2014

    Exactly. I dove in thinking I would do it all, but I'm learning what fits for me and what doesn't. Also that some of it is like a layer cake and you can't put on the upper layers until you've got a solid foundation and practiced a couple of the lower layers.

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