Here's to a New Year & an Old Humidifier

Well it's January 5th 2013 and it looks like we all have another year to get it right on planet Earth. I'm not quite through week one of my year of nothing new and I have already had my first experience of mindlessly thinking, "I'll just stop by Walgreen's and pick up a new humidifier..."

We were on our way home from our New Years Adventure in Silverton, CO and my son wasn't feeling well due to the extreme dry and cold weather. Anyhow, I had tried our humidifier at home a few days earlier and it wasn't producing any steam. So what's $30 for a new one considering my son wasn't feeling well and would truly benefit from it... That was my automatic pilot response until I remembered...oh shit this is actually day ONE of my 'year of nothing new' and I can't break down now...that would be so lame.

I am happy to share that we headed home without stopping at Walgreens. My old broke down humidifier was still out from my previous failed attempt at using it, so I brought it into the kitchen for a closer look. After checking it out I realized that the vaporizer only had two screws keeping it all together... How hard could it be to take it apart and check out the problem? What's the worst that could happen... it already didn't work. I have to admit, even though I wasn't dismantling a bomb I started to feel like MacGyver. (Give me a piece of gum and a shoestring and I can fix anything!)  Following my friend Amanda's advice, once I took it apart I soaked the vaporizer in some water and vinegar solution for a few hours, put it back together and you know what? It worked! Go me!

No, I am not a genius and yes, this was a small victory but what really happened for me was more profound... I am awake and aware of my consumption, I was forced to be more resourceful and best of all I didn't contribute to more plastic in a landfill.

Many people ask me why I am doing this and I've narrowed it down to three main reasons 1. It is simply not sustainable to continue consuming with a throw away mentatlity (Did you know that there is an island of trash twice the size of Texas floating around in the Pacific Ocean...if you don't believe me Google it)  2. It is a practice in mindfulness. I am keeping myself in check. What do I have, do I really need it, where is it coming from, who is it supporting... it is quite challenging to be a conscious consumer in this day and age so this is my personal solution. 3. I want my son to have a deep understanding, appreciation and gratitude for all that  he already has in his life instead of falling into the trap of always wanting more.

Upgrade, upgrade, upgrade! Always wanting more... it is such a trap and it breeds a society of people who are never quite satisfied. (I'm sure there's a pill for that too) But the jokes on us, with the rapid pace that technology is advancing there will always be the latest and greatest car, cell phone, computer, gadget, clothing, jewelry, home you name it, that is just out of reach and as soon as you get it, its already obsolete.

 I am choosing to live consciously for one year practicing sustainability, mindfulness & gratitude.

So here's to a New Year and an old humidifier!