Season of Giving

“The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.”

— Albert Einstein

Tomorrow is December 1st; the start of Hanukkah for some and the first day to begin an Advent calendar for others.  In general, this is known as a "Season of Giving".  With that in mind, I was delighted by a Facebook page that my husband found today.  It's called Karma Experiment.  The purpose of this page is to give people a forum via which they can gift something away - no strings attached.  The onus lies completely with the giver - choosing what to pass on to others, posting a photo, and shipping - at no cost to the random recipient.  A complete act of love.

Let's all give it a try... 
 

Help us make recycling work in America. More than a celebration, America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to the promotion of recycling programs in the United States. One day to inform and educate. One day to get our neighbors, friends and community leaders excited about what can be accomplished when we all work together. One day to make recycling bigger and better-365 days a year. Let's make recycling work in our communities. Get Involved:

Shred, Baby, Shred!

"All of the animals except for man know that the principle business of life is to enjoy it." 

~ Samuel Butler

Being a professional organizer, I love, Love, Love shredding outdated or useless paper!  Oh my goodness, the amount of paper that we all get stuck under sometimes is the most daunting obstacle to peace in our lives, don't you think?  It covers our counters, our coffee tables, our cars, our purses, our desks and our dining room tables!  Some people will actually swear that it breeds when they leave the house.  I've seen enough of it to think that they might be right!  

Well, today I treated myself to a little excursion.  My hair-stylist, Mandy at Media Hair Stop, has often mentioned that she brings her shredded paper to the local SPCA so I decided to give it a try.  What a wonderful experience!  I showed up with a bag of paper shreddings and an old torn sheet to donate.  I was surprised at how happy they were to receive my ragged gifts.  They said they can use old sheets or towels and ALWAYS need shredded paper to use as cat litter.  It was great satisfaction to know both that my house was liberated from it's documentary dilemma and that a worthy institution might benefit from my diligence!

You can bet that the Media SPCA will see me on their doorstep next month!  Why not give it a try?  Find your local SPCA and start shredding!

Recycling Batteries

"We have found the sources of hazardous waste and they are us."

— US EPA, from "Everybody's Problem: Hazardous Waste"

A household electronics waste collection was being held locally last week and I was happy to read that this also included the collection of batteries!  
This made me happy because about a year ago I decided that it was irresponsible to throw old, used batteries in the trash with all of the chemicals that they contain.  
 I put a quart sized plastic container near my kitchen garbage pail and used that to collect the refuse until I found an acceptable alternative to sending it to a landfill and voila!  One finally arrived.
I loaded up my old printers, grabbed my battery bucket and off I went to the collection event. 

Further investigation has shown that rechargeable batteries are the best choice as far as prevention - but only if they are then recycled.   
Another useful tidbit I've learned is that some retail stores (Home Depot, Radio Shack, Sears...) have used-battery take back programs.
Want to test your knowledge?        Take a Quiz!

How cool is this?!?!

"Eventually we'll realize that if we destroy the ecosystem, we destroy ourselves."

— Jonas Salk , American physician and microbiologist, 1914-95

Biodegradable peanuts!  No, not the ones you eat and not the ones in the comic strip.  The ones you pack boxes with.  Packing peanuts!

My husband received a package today and called me over to the sink after he had opened it.  He handed me a packing peanut from the box and asked me to hold it under the hot water he had running in the sink.  I held it there for just a second as it instantly dissolved in my hand.  The box included a card stating that the material used to make them is "starch based, non-toxic, static free, reusable and compostable..." 

How cool is this?!?!

If you want to know more details about this environmentally friendly choice, take a look at this YouTube video.

'Off to College' Furniture Excursion!

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed."

— Mahatma Gandhi

My daughter's move from underclassman dorm room to apartment life this past weekend afforded me the opportunity to check out a local thrift store that I've heard tell of.
The apartment Rebecca and her friends chose was unfurnished and thrift store shopping seemed like the environmentally (3R's), fiscally (tight budgets) and mentally (no worries about new furniture being used by college students) responsible way to handle this challenge.
So.... off the the Habitat ReStore we went!

Habitat ReStores are thrift stores set up to collect and re-sell all sorts of appliances and home furnishings from lighting to dishwashers, coffee tables to kitchen sinks (really).  At the one we visited, the staff checks the quality and operational ability of donated items and then prices them to sell.
The best part was that, at the same time we were skipping to the car with Rebecca's new kitchen table and chairs, we were feeling the contentment of knowing that our money was going to Habitat for Humanity - an organization making noticeable differences right here in our own city.
Look and see if there's a ReStore in your area - it's a fun outing and you just might pick up a $5 coffee table...we did!

Saying "Yes"

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

— Edmund Burke

Over the past several weeks I have had the opportunity to travel to several states for a few various reasons - visiting colleges that my son was considering, taking training programs, attending a national conference for professional organizers...

During this busy time one theme has emerged and re-emerged in various places from various people and has been stated in different ways.  The theme is this:

Changing the world is up to ME.

Some of the ways that it has been said are:

            "If it's to be, it's up to me."

                                                     "If not you, then who?"

                   "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

So, this week  my blog is a challenge.  It is a challenge that I am posing to myself and that I ask my readers to consider accepting for themselves.  

The challenge is simply this:  Say "YES" to whatever possibilities for bettering the world present themselves to you over the next 2 weeks.  Donations, volunteerism, interpersonal requests for support, neighborhood planting/cleanup/recycle events.... 

The opportunities confront us almost daily if we choose to acknowledge them - donate a dollar outside the grocery store, offer to watch a neighbor's kid for an hour, participate in a school or church outreach event.  

And remember, whatever you choose to DO, the resulting "change" is up to YOU. 

BE the Change

and enjoy the new world you are creating!