Planet Garbage

It's birds, it's planes. Insects? No! It's garbage in space.

Homo sapiens would be better labeled as homo garbagiens. 

We produce garbage at an alarming rate, because we aren't as shmart as we give ourselves credit for. 

The entire consumer system is reliant on us continuing to participate in its garbage economy. No waste - no economy as we know it.

It's what we do - make waste. It is one of the best ways to flaunt your wealth. More stuff equals more garbage. More garbage means more stuff.

This sickness has spread to all points of the Earth.

There is garbage at the bottom of the deepest trench in our oceans.

There is garbage at the top our our tallest mountain.

There is garbage in remote parts of the world, far away from the people who produced it.

Finally, not to leave any place pristine and free our our wasteful ways, there is garbage in space, including on the Moon.

So much, in fact, that there is some danger of making our upper reaches dangerous places for satellites as well as astronauts and their space ships.

It is so dangerous that a lot of money is spent identifying and tracking some of the larger, more threatening chunks circling our planet.

Many people wonder why intelligent life has never contacted us. I have a theory.

Probably because they came, took one look at how we have ringed our planet in garbage, and correctly surmised that any life form that soils its own nest to the extent we have is more garbagiens than sapiens, and best avoided.

Or, alien life has come to meet us, rammed their silver sausage space ship into a piece of space junk while trying to land, and burned up in the atmosphere in fiery crashes.

"Oh, look, a pretty meteorite," we say, looking to the sky as our curious alien visitors burn to a crisp and land in the ocean somewhere.

Welcome to Planet Garbage.

How do we fix this, in space as well as on the ground?

Live more simply. 

I know - it is my answer for just about everything. But it works, and I know from years of personal experience.

It is amazing at how effectively cutting down on what we do and what we consumer cuts down on garbage production.

No garbage in - no garbage out.

Let's clean up our act, then put out the welcome mat on Planet Pristine.

Camera Crazy

My ancient 4MP camera broke a few months ago. I have not replaced the old point and shoot yet, and you know what I am finding?

No camera - no problem. I have never owned a smart phone, so I have no camera at all. 

Since the ever-present smart phone made it into everyone's pocket, picture taking devices have been more available than any time since the invention of the photographic camera in the early 1800s.

Now, we are crazily documenting the minutia of our lives 24/7. The use of photo-based social media sites is now a central part of people's lives.

Whether the ubiquitous nature of digital photographic devices has been a good thing for society or not has yet to be decided.

There is some evidence that greater exposure to visual imagery dulls our senses. 

On the other hand, studies exist that indicate that "photo-taking can naturally promote mindful attention to visual aspects of experiences. Such mindful photo-taking can increase enjoyment of and memory for experiences, generate positive mood, and heighten life-satisfaction."

But I have been wondering for years now - do we really need to record and share every minute detail of our lives down to what we eat for breakfast, lunch, and supper? 

We can't just enjoy breakfast, lunch and supper any more, and that seems like a loss of sorts.

That is why I have not been missing my camera. 

The easy ability to record everything instantly can be a burden as well as a blessing.

Instead of being in the moment, the act of photography may take us into the future with thoughts about the framing of the picture, who we might share the image with and on what platform, and more importantly, what our images reflect about us and our lives.

Most of the photos I take are when I explore natural areas so I can share my activities with Linda (who is unable to join me due to her medical condition).

Gardening, biking, bird watching, hiking, and snowshoeing are all activities that Linda likes to see evidence of upon my return home.

She even likes the shots I take of animal poop so she can hone her tracking skills.

But nature activities are those that lend themselves to moving meditation, which I particularly enjoy.

When I don't have a camera along with me, it clears me to simply enjoy the moment instead of harbouring thoughts of documenting the moment.

Then, it is just me and nature in perfect harmony, unsullied by technology and desires for some future benefit from my photography, even if it is just Linda liking what I bring home.

I can get lost in the moment, and totally merge with my surroundings. I find this particularly stress relieving and regenerating. 

I can feel my connection with the environment more strongly.

I will be getting a new camera eventually, although it is getting increasingly difficult to find an inexpensive, quality point and shoot as manufacturers drop them due to poor sales.

Who would even buy those old cameras these days except us Neo-Luddites? 

In the meantime, it is just me and old fashioned reality experienced straight up. 

What do you think? Are cameras making us more mindful, or less? Does picture taking enhance the moment, or detract from it?

And more importantly, with trillions of images being taken, is a picture still worth a thousand words? 

The Stoic Path To Living Simply

The Stoics paved the simple road for us, and that off ramp to sanity is available to anyone wanting to drive away from the asylum we currently inhabit.

Their advice maps out a route to a simple, happy life of inner peace.

The Stoic Path To Living Simply

Live in agreement with nature.

Wealth, status, and power are distractions, and are ultimately irrelevant.

Own only the essentials as happiness can not be found in things.

Let go of the things that can not be controlled, and strive for the mastery of the things we can control - thoughts, opinions, decisions and duties.

Work for the common good rather than personal gain.

We are born with everything we need to live a virtuous, happy life.

Eliminate toxic emotions that prevent rational responses. The further from anger we are, the stronger we will be.

Focus on present circumstances, where we can actually make a difference.

Our interconnectedness means that mutual cooperation is the only way to resolve our challenges because we are all family.

The Stoic's message is an antidote to the sickness of consumerism and worldly obsessions that have taken over much of our lives.

According to their ideas, we have everything we need right now to make things better for ourselves, and everyone else.

This rational, personal, and active wish is more effective and optimistic than the passive blind hope that someone else will do the long distance driving for us.

And while traveling on the path, do not forget to enjoy the simple things, like sitting in a warm sunbeam.

I Love Lentils

This is not a post on lentils, necessarily. 

If you were expecting an enthusiastic endorsement of this tiny powerhouse of flavour and nutrition, coveted for their ability to transform ordinary dishes into extraordinary culinary creations, this isn't it.

This post is of a more philosophical nature.

But lentils figure highly in this story about the freedom and nature-loving Stoic philosopher, Diogenes.

On seeing the philosopher, Diogenes, eating bread and lentils, fellow philosopher, Aristippus, who lived comfortably by flattering the king said,

“If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils.”

Diogenes replied, “Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king.”

There is my answer right there, spoke so many years ago.

If you don't want to be subservient to the consumer system, learn to love lentils.

I love lentils.

I really, really love lentils.

And Diogenes.

Happy weekend, people. 

Gardening, anyone?

Simple Dreams

Some people dream big. I like to dream small. 

And simple. 

A few examples to illustrate my diminutive, but doable, dreams.

My dream home (and location).

My dream recreational vehicle. 

My dream motorized vehicle.

My dream life. 

My dream planet.

Dream little, live large.

Dream simple, live free.

Dream compassionately, live in peace.