Start Thinking

Before we get too deep into all my opinions, my disclaimer is that you don't have to agree with me.  You don't have to like what I write and please don't take it all as fact.  I do hope, however, that you'll take the time to investigate some of these issues for yourself.  Here are some interesting documentaries that got the ball rolling for our own family if you're looking for a place to start:

Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices
The Last Mountain
What Would Jesus Buy?
The Age of Stupid
Sprawling from Grace


I'll be following up with more resources but these were some of our personal favorites!  Anything you could recommend?

Questions & Answers

Just what the world needs, another blog!  After writing about everything from pregnancy to social media in libraries, you'd think I'd just about covered it all.  However, our family is starting to transition toward a more conscious way of living and I was surprised by the lack of resources for people in our position.  We see a problem, we want to make a change, but how do we start?  I hope this blog can not only keep us accountable with our choices but help other families find small ways to make their lifestyles more sustainable.

So what's the problem?  In case you hadn't noticed, our society is becoming more and more caught up in accumulating stuff.  We spend money we don't have to buy things we don't need to impress people we don't like.  What do we really need and what do we want?  What is the best way to get what we need?  What do our habits tell our son?  Somewhere along the line love became synonymous with objects.  If we don't give our kids a certain toy or tell them no, we don't love them.  I believe that just because we can do something doesn't mean we should.  I wish I had easy answers to all these questions, but I am sure of several things:

• If we can do this, anyone can.  We live in the proverbial "middle of nowhere."  There aren't many options for buying local or from businesses that aren't corporate giants.  My husband and I are currently working at least 120 hours between the two of us so we don't have much time to shop around for items that meet our ethical standards.  But we're committed to taking baby steps and I hope you'll realize that any family in any situation can make similar efforts.
• As a proud Union family, we have a duty to support workers' rights around the globe.  I can't enjoy the support my husband's union gives and then go to Walmart and buy a shirt made by Chinese women in sweatshops just because it's a few dollars cheaper.  Low prices still have a cost, they're just usually invisible impacts on people that for some reason our society disregards.  How something is made should be as important as the finished product.  Abuses against workers are bad for all of us, no matter what industry you're in. 
• Can my family fix all the problems of the world?  Probably not.  But knowing there's a problem and not doing anything to change our ways is even worse than living in ignorance.  If we all made a few changes and started thinking about the consequences of our actions, the world would be a much better place.  I hope that at the very least, my writing can push you to act more consciously in some way.

Looking forward to starting this journey toward a more sustainable lifestyle with you!

I firmly believe that if we can do this, anyone can!