Here is a Netflix documentary that gives multiple reasons for reducing the use of gadgets/make-you-lonely technologies and anti-social media. Addiction and loneliness are the two that stand out today, but there are multiple reasons “getting clean”. Loneliness has been steadily increasing since the early 2000s while internet usage was skyrocketing. Then came the onset of internet on phones, followed by social media. Then, the March 2020 coV mess hit, and loneliness hit rock bottom. It can be argued that loneliness was the more severe pandemic. I highly recommend the film as part of informing yourself.

I will share one thing that stood out to me. One person poses the question “do you check your phone before or during your morning pee? Those are the only options.”

Is that for real??? Um, the answer is obvious, but I guess it isn’t for most people. The answer is long after; over an hour later actually. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t even know that was a thing. Apparently I’m one of the few. See this is what I’m talking about. I am free. I am on the outside of this nonsense. I would say I’m “on the outside looking in”, but that isn’t accurate either because I don’t care to look inside. I have too much to do in living my life. You will discover the same thing about yourself as you begin to awaken and reclaim your health/life.

“And you know they never really owned you, you just carried them around ya, and one day you put ’em down and found your hands were free. -Ani DiFranco, Garden of Simple.

Life as real life. You can set yourself free also. May you start with watching the documentary and accepting that too much gadgetry is a problem. There are tips and steps provided at the end of the film.

Here are a few that I do:

* Deleted my Facebook a long time ago. In fact, I tried it for only a short time.
* Don’t have a smartphone; a flip phone instead and I take it with me only occasionally.
* Use Proton email, secure and private.
* Unplug regularly

Enjoy the film! It’s a good one, well done.
Take charge; say no to at least a few things, take back your health and your real life. Be your own creature!

The coach has spoken it. Again.

“Don’t make me come snatch a doughnut outcha mouth.” -LL Cool J

-O
Related writings:
Suggested Read
Speaking of Your Wellness Diary
Words of Wisdom from the Coffee Shop

You wouldn’t understand. The sun will continue to shine on you though.

See you there; looking forward to it.

“Friday afternoon and all the worries just float into the air.
Going to our secret spot and no one else knows how to get there”. -311, Friday Afternoon

There is a big difference between living in fear, and living in joy, albeit with a healthy dose of skepticism, asking the right questions toward goals, plans and preparation. The latter is intentional and proactive. May you choose it.

-Owen

“I get to cash out my sick pay next week!” Even though this hypothetical coworker is an annoying boaster, he/she probably made you stop and think.

Don’t you wish the above were true? You do if you’re one who eats well, reduces stress, exercises because if you do these it is likely that you rarely if ever get sick. At the time of this writing, I don’t know of employers that do this, but I’m sure a few exist. There certainly should be rewards for those of us who rarely need to use sick days due to our healthy lifestyle. That is one of my gripes during my time working trading hours for dollars, or hours for ten dollar bills to be more exact ha ha. Those few who rarely if ever called in sick due to their healthy and low risk lifestyle are given no rewards. There are no incentives. The one-size-fits all approach, which is all too prevalent is used. They are merely treated like everyone else.

There should be incentives up the wazoo on every level for those who VOLUNTARILY live a low risk, healthy lifestyle. Employees should be able to cash out their sick pay; of course they should! What’s more there is little reprimand (except the lovely guilt trip and interrogation from your supervisor) for those who call in sick frequently.

Yet, those who never use sick pay are scarcely noticed! Instead, they should be applauded and recognized. Others should be thankful for the healthy lifestyle that some voluntarily integrate into their lives; it saves money, work pressure and gives others a break.

I understand that nearly everyone gets sick from time to time and it’s a good thing we live in a modern world and in a (at least semi) forward-thinking country, where accumulated sick pay exists for when it is needed. But there should be incentives and rewards for those who rarely need it because they do the right things in taking care of themselves (diet, sleep, exercise and stress reduction). This is one area that I hope for the beginnings of change in the right direction toward a healthier nation and world. I was glad to see that minimum wage was recently raised. That was long overdue.

Food for thought for ye.
Related writings:

Forward-thinking Workplaces

O

I’ve been thinking about jobs lately (I’ve had some fantastic ones where I’ve been glad for the experience). Through it all, I’ve developed some ideas of possible room for improvement, but also some gripes. I’m glad that Biden has increased minimum wage. That was long overdue since $7.35/hour or whatever it was. It isn’t worth my cerebral energy to find out what the exact rate was. That was ridiculous. Nobody can live on that rate. I’m glad he is making some changes to the structure of work that makes the nature of work in the nation more fair, and that helps to narrow the-all-too large inequality gap.

Something else I would like to see is a way to confidentially check out a prospective employer as part of the hiring process even before submitting a resume. There should be transparency in most areas, sort of like shopping, so that you know what you’re buying. Finding a good job with a team that is also a good fit to your traits, work strengths/weaknesses and habits would be that much easier. I submit that the right lists and tools used properly with intent toward helping workers to find the right fit would save time, money, hassle and would even boost morale.

Here is just a basic rundown of possible questions/points that should be easily accessible:

Size of team
Approx. ratio of introverts to extroverts
Likelihood of possibly transferring locations (to reduce commuting time for example)
Lunch duration (hour or half hour)
Does the company value tenure, or are you merely a disposable number? “Business is business.”
Approx.ratio of desk duties to “outward” duties
Onsite perks such as gym, stress relief center, massage chairs, etc.
Top priorities of duties

These are helpful to know for folks who know themselves, such as whether introverted or extroverted, or prefers to be given duties out and about working with people instead of a desk job, etc. Maybe the tendency has been to see work as merely a paycheck; I submit humanity is beyond that now. There is more to work than merely a job. Considerations such as the team you’ll be working with, personality compatibility and the work environment are helpful. Why not align work to your values as much as possible? After all, how much of your adult life will be spent working? That is, currently, since many European nations offer 4-6 weeks of annual vacation time and ample maternity leave. Americans currently get two on average, and that’s if you’re lucky. Being the “richest nation” and all (even if only through our own eyes, redefining “rich” would also fit here), I hope to see more allotted time off also. But even if that happens, and I hope it does, that is still a lot of time spent at work.

Proper fit. A major part of the pursuit of happiness is the proper fit in so many aspects of life. Why should work be any different?

O
Related writings:

Praise for One Hour Lunch Breaks

Stress Relief
http://wellnessdiaries.com/think-about-it-for-the-month-2/

On this shortest day/longest night, it seemed fitting to send up hopes that whilst we’re enjoying the winter, the snow and the holidays, that “we can make the bright side even brighter”. (Staples, O. 2013, Life Is Conscious). Instead of a mere sliver, or crescent moon, it is my hope that we can bring the brightness in its entirety that is more like the full moon, and someday even the sun. Fitting, since after today it begins to return to us.

Enjoy (all) the holidays, and happy/healthy 2023, everyone.

Hugs, salutes, waves, high-fives and handshakes,

O

Orb weaver; photo credit: my zoology friend, Syd. Sorry arachnophobes. I thought the photo was amazing.

A return to beginnings here; if you’ve read my first memoir,The Wellness Diaries, you know that it all began with my jotting down thoughts here and there about mood, sleep, discoveries about food/nutrition and exercise preferences. Once I asserted these and integrated them into my life, I had more to give to others, the world around me and even back to myself. They paid for themselves many times over. New opportunities and possibilities began to open up for me. It is as though I was rewarded for taking care of myself. How about that?! This is just my submission to each individual. This is the beauty of a wellness diary.

To those of you who haven’t tried it, the effects of your own wellness diary are far reaching. Jotting in your own private wellness diary about your sleep patterns, moods, exercise routine and food choices teach you a lot of valuable information about yourself, your preferences, likes and dislikes. Wellness is about the individual-the many layers of spirit, mind and body. I like to say that wellness is health expanded. There are so many layers worth exploring. A lot is covered there, probably more than you realize. Chances are that you will discover as I did a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and that wonderfully refreshing feeling of self-honesty. Keeping a wellness diary helps you to “own it.” The level of relief and liberation in learning something new about your likes and dislikes, and practicing the assertiveness to just go with that new knowledge, and applying it in your life is difficult to describe. Suffice it to say that not only does it build character and makes you stronger, but it is a catalyst for your own helpful journey, and quite likely before you even realized you were on a journey! Then you will look back on how far you’ve come and it will be rewarding exciting and inspirational, not only for yourself but for others also. Others begin to see the changes that you have planned and integrated, a building of yourself.

It is just like exercise, meditation, stress reduction, setting yourself up for sound sleep, or any other health promoting habit. It pays off and there is the added benefit of putting your mind and body into it. This encourages self-efficacy. Growth. Strength. Confidence. Alignment. Inspiration. So many keywords are associated with the work you are already doing as you recreate yourself and your immediate surroundings, enjoying regular musings through jottings in your wellness diary. You can learn to get creative and have fun with it! What’s more, it can be as elaborate or as simple as you wish.

There are many benefits. Writing in your wellness diary is to practice mindfulness. It is also a form of brain exercise. The act of writing with your hand, the slower pace of it, helps you to retain, relive and remember meaningful information and detail. Writing it down is also a form of release, whether what you are writing about was positive or negative, writing it is to set it free. What’s even better, you are learning something about that topic which you write about, and how it affects you. Keeping your wellness diary will teach you a lot.

It is very simple to do. You don’t even necessarily have to write daily. You can write when you have a new idea, thought, or have learned something new about your well-being, either through your own observation, (key) or through some other source, tips that you decided to apply that worked for you, for example.

One aspect of health and wellness is of course is exercise. I don’t know many people who actually just love exercising; this includes me. I love the outcomes and the benefits that exercise gives me, but it’s not like I wake up on Monday mornings and say “yes! Triceps today yeeeeeeeeeEEE-hawwww!” Not exactly; if anything, I would describe that scene as a form of healthy drudgery, where I’m not particularly looking forward to it, but I see it as essential and I just do it. It’s just one of those ‘musts’ in my life. I’m glad after I have exercised. It is an essential part of life. The benefits are nearly endless. Gut health, cardiovascular health, strengthened immunity, stress reduction, improved sleep, increased feel-good hormones, elimination of toxins, improved productivity and creativity-these are just a few of the many benefits of regular exercise. This is why it is an essential. However, there is no doubt that it is hard work. It helps to keep your body thriving in so many ways. Everyone knows that exercise is beneficial, yet how many still do it regularly? Take any health habit positive or negative, and you can write in your wellness diary about it. “There’s a diary entry for that!” Everyone knows that smoking is detrimental to health, yet plenty of people still smoke. I’m not knocking people who smoke. There are many factors involved in the reasons for it being so difficult to quit. These are just examples.

You can also include a section about where you are on your path with your goals, or your pursuit of happiness if you will. You may find it helpful to first write something in a positive light, such as where you feel your life is rich and abundant, having what you want, have wanted. This extends into the area of gratitude. Then you can also contrast this to your jots about what you feel is missing from your life. Be honest and without self-criticism or blame; there is no right or wrong answer here. Self-honesty is one of the most important components. Once you have the two sides, take an honest look about what you can change toward your goals and happy pursuits, and the steps you will take to achieve them. Be honest, realistic, and allow yourself time. This part is very helpful to write down. It helps you to make distinctions and clarity.

The point is that you are more likely to engage in the healthful habit of regular exercise (or any health promoting habit within spirit, mind and body) if you are aware of the ones that you just don’t like, practice self-honesty and just eliminate and reduce you obligating and “shoulding” yourself to keep those in your workout plan. For example, I am not a runner. I’m not really designed to run fast or for very long. Could I train to become faster and to run for longer distance? Absolutely. But do I want to, and is that feasible/realistic for my goals? No. And am I worried about that? No. I am honest with myself; I learn clarity with likes and dislikes and I just “go with it”. This is so refreshing. I can’t really tell you; it’s something you must experience for yourself.

When you realize that this applies to every aspect of wellness, you see the huge potential here. But on my journey, learning something about which exercises were palatable was big for me, before I could really commit to exercising regularly. I believe this is a practical application for anyone. Making it easier for yourself is part of setting yourself up for success. Learning about the types of exercise that are less grueling makes it easier to exercise regularly.

Sleep, food choices, your social style, (are you an introvert or extrovert and to what extent)? Your dreams, aspirations, stress, triggers, moods, mental health tips and discoveries, all these matter. They are helpful to know throughout your life. This can be especially helpful at this time of year during the winter when it is harder to get out, or to get the motivation to exercise. It is also a great time to be learning these many aspects of wellness jotted in your wellness diary to be integrated into new plans, life changers, and goals for the upcoming year. All these can be part of your wellness diary collage and journey!

As mentioned before, too many options produces stress; eliminating some of the options is to De-clutter and is refreshing, a healthy habit.

I submit that a new world awaits. You have only to start writing it and doing it; it is an exercise by itself. You can get all into it, creatively and being organized by wellness topic, even with tabs, chapters, headings, and photos/illustrations if you choose. Or, you could simply jot it all down into one big hodge-podge of wellness practices and ideas.

One nice thing about a wellness diary is that when you tend to forget, you can look back at certain aspects to spark your memory as part of self-help, growth and building your spirit, mind, body, and your life. It all starts with your wellness diary.

After all, that is exactly where it began for me-the journey since then has continued to sprout, grow and branch. I submit that exploration, discovery and study for life-long learning is one of the joys of life. I highly recommend enhancing it with your own wellness diary, during this season as a new beginning for yourself.

Season’s joy, peace, cheer, and happy/healthy 2023 to all,

-O

Related writings:
More Than Survive, Thrive!
Think About it for the Month…
Awake.

Our shadows while hiking. The photo doesn’t do it justice. It looked like nothing I had ever seen!

Did you vote?

Your vote does count, especially on the local/state level.

Much of what I hear about voting lately is the encouragement to give lifetime loyalty to a certain party.

I beg to differ on nearly every level.

Isn’t the marriage to one religion enough?

I am not a Republican.

I am not a Democrat either.

My friend, a Republican said shorter terms would be a good idea. I would tend to agree with this and other changes made in reforming the current system.

It is becoming harder to vote for either party in good conscience.

I withdrew from both of two parties knowing that I can’t fully subscribe to either of them and I proudly registered myself as unaffiliated; that is, I am not married to any one party. This is different from the Independent American party, which, since I’m unaffiliated, I could (and did) vote for this and other parties, (policies and changes, not party-voting). It is easy to confuse the two, as I once did, so I wanted to clarify.

Let’s just tell it how it is currently and replace the word party with the word team. Voting is another sports event; passions and stakes run as high as UofU vs BYU. Fellow Utahns will fully understand the intense level of competition by that comparison alone. We are so conditioned to think in terms of competition in every aspect of life that you actually have to train your mind to back out of that “mental template.” It is sad but true.

You’ll see as I did that the two party system is part of today’s problem in America. It is a big part of the reason the country is so divided right now.

I voted just last week. I voted for a wide range, mostly the obscure parties that I want to see more from, such as United Utah, Libertarian, etc. I would like to have voted for the Green Party, but it is not yet on Utah ballots. Still, I was very glad to see these additional parties on the ballots. I look up and study each candidate and proposition to make an informed choice. I used to bury my head in the sand and not do anything with politics because it wasn’t my thing. It still isn’t, really. However, as I matured, I realized that this is a way for the slime to encroach even further. I knew I couldn’t really talk or complain unless I was willing to make my voice heard. I decided to be more proactive and inform myself more. I also changed my perceptions. I vote for goodness, honesty, fairness, and diversity.

It’s that simple.

Still, it is bogus that each election feels like doomsday. It should not be this way. The continuous improvisation of the nation should simply be another job. That much I have been saying and writing for a decade. But no, it feels like it’s all or nothing. Of course it feels that way! There are only two parties! This setup makes it just another superbowl, with very high stakes and winner takes all. It is a pissing contest. But since this is the operations of a country and not a superbowl, the two party system no longer serves the need of a country with a population as large as America’s.

While I can’t fully subscribe to either party, there are concepts, beliefs from each that I agree with, and I think many could say the same. This is why other parties would be effective as the middle and not the extremes of either right or left. In this modern world we are surrounded by further encroaching issues. It really is too much for only two parties alone. A multi-party system ( five or six) would relieve the pressure. So the solution would simply be a rotating repair job. This would help to eliminate the outrageous bipolar extremes that take place when the opposite party takes office and essentially dismantles the work of the former party to prove a point.

Another friend, a Democrat elaborated on the way he sees the two parties: Republicans are like dads, structured and strict, while Democrats are like moms, nurturing and passive. But that we have seen that our dad has been abusive. He emphasized that we need characteristics of each. While this analogy may be an oversimplification, we’ll go with it here temporarily as it provides clarity. This is where a five or six party system would be effective. Traits of each and even more “tools” that are designed to help improve and rotate and not just two.

I have found moderate Republicans tolerable. I have some friends that are moderate; we can at least have a healthy, respectful discussion, even though we will disagree on several points. Republicans that can demonstrate to me that they are moderate instead of extreme and delusional are more likely to get my vote.

You make it hard to take you seriously. I don’t vote for abuse or delusion; nor the one size fits all approaches so commonly used, (by government in general). Moderates though, at least we can have a discussion.

But if you are one of those that still insists that the earth is flat, or you deny that the holocaust ever happened, or deny environmental problems, or that they affect us, we have nothing to discuss. I don’t pretend to understand your level of denial. It is deliberate ignorance that has surpassed the point of delusion. I am also realizing the aggression that borders on fascism. If one persists on that path of reality, even if that perceived reality is actually untrue, then it becomes delusion. It is a set belief that is actually untrue, not factual. It is a false belief.

The common tendency to throw the baby out with the bathwater is a bad habit. The watching, searching for the one area where there is disagreement so that you can write off everything that person or party says as obsolete-it is a bad habit. It feeds the all or nothing, black and white thinking. This is why the revolving priority dial should be the new system for parties. A different cluster of solutions or tools, a tightening of the nuts and bolts to continue improvising this modern world.

On the Democrat side, I don’t like all the policing. It drives me nuts.
Maybe I’m just ranting now, so that’s the end of this post.

I believe there is enough goodness left in government, especially on the state and local levels to make voting worth our time. However, if you don’t vote, in a coming time, this may not be the case.

I shall continue to vote (in every way) and advocate for diversity, honesty, goodness, fairness and for additional parties.

-O

Related writings:
Think About it for the Month
Reconsider the Logic
Comparison and Competition, One and the Same
Judgement Or Assessment?
Black Farmers Matter
Not Anti-Gun, Pro Wellness
Food Deserts, US Election and More
Dough Boy
Mayor, Presidents May Care
Idling Your Car, the New Second Hand Smoke

It is a healthy practice throughout the journey to occasionally stop and reconsider where you’ve been, how you reached your conclusions, reevaluate where you are going and ask yourself whether that direction continues to help you to reach your goals. If you haven’t already read it, I highly recommend the book Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. The book is well written and Pollan makes excellent points across the wide span of this particular spectrum. Pollan fully examines the familiarities surrounding food: cruelty to animals, the decline of human health, environmental destruction of factory farming etc. Pollan discusses the evolution of humans and the food species historically consumed by humankind. He takes readers through the modern industry and provides compelling pros and cons about various movements including organic. Pollan even expounds on possible reasons why the modern vegan ideal may not be feasible for everyone. This reminded me that people generally have entirely the wrong idea about veg folk. There is so much more to whole-foods plant-based diets than eating tofu. Some of us don’t even like it. Others eat it only rarely. We are diverse “people of character” -Dr. McDougall and we are continually evolving. It’s onto the next universe ( we know there are multiple ones btw,) so by the time you print up the labels to tack on our foreheads we’re already three universes yonder. There is room here for exploration, discovery, growth and expansion.

Still, on my own journey I have heard this book referred to as a classic and I have to say that I agree. Even though I may not agree on all the points he made, I like it because this book does just that; it stops and asks everyone wherever you are currently on the food spectrum to reconsider what’s on your plate. In addition, the author points out that movements such as small-scale farming, small businesses and local are worthy of everyone’s support all across the spectrum. As emphasized in my writings, (Life Is Conscious, Eyes on the Prize), it asks everyone to meet in the middle. But regardless of locale on the spectrum, even the polar opposites, it becomes clearer that factory farming is one of the biggest parts of the problem. Pollan points out that there is no going back; humanity cannot return to its hunter/gatherer lifestyle-for better or for worse. Pollan skillfully arrives at this conclusion. You will need to read the book to discover the details.

The point is made that dietary taboos are nearly as plentiful as sexual ones. The very word omnivore can imply that anything goes. It’s interesting that many world religions contain instructions, guides, even prohibitions, about eating meat, including Judeo-Christian, Islam and Buddhism (Lent, abstaining from pork, Kosher, LDS Word of Wisdom “eat meat sparingly,”(Doctrine and Covenants), etc, implying some form of restraint or omission there. As natural omnivores, perhaps saying no to some things is a sacred act. After all, maybe the anything, anytime anyone-always can lead to excess; perhaps there needs to be self-control at some point. Said another way, there is wisdom in the practice of self discipline, sobriety and temperance, or saying no or sparingly. Thebeauty of this is that you get to do this at your own pace and in your own way.

Pollan makes a strong case that is difficult to disregard about the multiple benefits of private, family owned farms with happy, free range animals while they are living, as opposed to the horrors committed on animals also while living, and the extreme environmental detriment of mass factory farming.

I understand that being a strict veg is not for everyone. Plus, animals that are happy in the sun, doing what they are designed by nature to do is a positive thing; being given the happiness and “respect they deserve” while living, with a reverence for life when they are killed for food is a step forward and I was glad to see that the author made this point. I certainly won’t argue there.

The part about shooting a wild pig admittedly was not my favorite part. As a veg who discontinued hunting in late childhood/early adolescence and having no plans to start again- pas pour moi (not for me), this stood out to me. It is interesting that the author skillfully illustrates a vivid description of reverence and intense gratitude in that moment, and something like mixed emotions later. It is noteworthy that I have felt this exact intensity of gratitude when harvesting Yukon Gold potatoes, green beans, peas, tomatoes and potatoes that I organically grew myself, except without the mixed emotions later on.

However, I can appreciate the skill in asking everyone on the broad spectrum of human omnivory to reconsider and stretch outside one’s comfort zone some. Whether this is for your own health, the animals or to benefit the environment, I suggest this thought provoking book as a starter for your renewal and your regular, healthy “reconsideration of everything”.

As for this veg, I don’t think the universe that we refer to is quite infinite. That one over there might be, however. See it?

Enjoy the exploration!

-Owen

Would you workout in a casino?
Okay you pegged me; it’s a trick question because if you live in Utah you breathe its casino air everyday.

I can count on one hand the number of days per year that I ride my bike because the air is too polluted.

It’s curious as to why there is still any debate regarding the regulation of environmental pollution. As an attempt to eliminate the dangers of second hand smoke in public, how can cigarette smoking be banned from restaurants and public buildings to improve what was a Public Health concern twenty years ago in the name of progress, but we’re struggling now to control the severity of air pollution in Utah? Utah, where there is a casino-like air quality on a daily basis, this should be a top priority. Nobody has reason to be arrogant or to continue the denial here. Polluted air affects everyone.

Just last week I was thinking about the steps in mindfulness and in doing my best to be a wise steward that I personally take to reduce environmental degradation. Shoot, by choice, I eat a plant-based diet, and I have consolidated my driving to three days per week. But individual efforts are one thing when gigantic corportions with short-sighted goals are another topic. If industries and even large corportions were to put in a fraction of this effort, that would hugely change things for the better. Just imagine if gigantic industries/corporations were to sacrifice just a small percentage of profits to allocate to cleaner standards. This would be huge, awesome. They would be leaders and each giant that did this would reduce a lot of pollution.

Industry is designed to maximize profits; that is, on steroids, and too often this is at the expense of everything and everyone else-very one sided. Thus the need for regulation right, since the greed would grow out of control. Industry (and the historical human for that matter) doesn’t have the best track record of regulating itself/ourselves. The current model of perpetual growth is part of the problem and ensures that there can never be enough profits for giants; this further perpetuates the cycle of decline. They stomp out everything and everyone else. This is not only an environmental, but a social problem too.

Look, I get that not everyone is a naturalist, or has enough time or energy to be highly concerned about the environment. I get that. However, I do believe that most people care about nature to at least some degree. But in all fairness, people are busy with lives, jobs, families, relationships, the need for fun, and life is hectic. Shoot, I think we all have enough on our plates these days, especially these last two years. Not everyone is a biologist or ecologist and has time or energy to put into stopping to consider and research just how each step they take will impact the environment. This is all the more reason why the regulation of certain industries is essential. Not everyone can stop to think each time they are waiting in line about shutting off their idling car, or remembers to bring their reuseable grocery bags made of cloth instead of plastic.

If Biden (I say Biden not only as the current president, but because Republicans don’t have a good track record for correcting environmental problems or being particularly concerned about them, or even admitting that they exist,) were to implement incentives to reduce fossil fuels, half the nation would throw a fit. We already know how this conversation would go. Extremists would be yelling conspiracy and that our freedoms are being taken away. Yet, incentives toward, or even requirements for catalytic converters on small engines, solar, electric cars or even natural gas (less polluting) would go far and the average citizen operating a motor vehicle would hardly feel it. The impact would hardly be noticed on an individual level. It wouldn’t make your car any less “zippy”, stylish, lacking in horsepower, or your lawnmower any less efficient. Your vehicle would hardly notice the difference. But the environment would improve tremendously with a change this broad.

It is unacceptable that gigantic industries own the day and are permitted to run amuck, not doing their fair share to reduce pollution all to maximize profits. Yet, this is at the expense of everything else. This level of greed is criminal.

Another biggie is plastic. The same would be for a ban on plastic bags and implementation of more natural materials instead. Measures that would hardly be noticed on an individual level and yet would make a tremendous (in the positive) difference nationally/globally. (Like it or not, with twenty years of the world wide web, it is now a global world). If Biden were to require regulation in plastic production so that for most applications, (especially something as widely used as grocery bags and bottles) plastic is replaced by material using coconut, rice husk or other natural materials; (they do exist; I have planters made from these). This would help tremendously.

The ripple effect of healthy (or unhealthy) oceans and forests don’t need to be spelled out. But I find that people generally need to hear that these do affect us. And they do. Yet, part of the problem is, (in all fairness and due respect), that not all people have time, energy or resources to find these details.

Some of the rules of this LIC/WD philosophy are meeting others halfway and giving credit where credit is due. Not everyone should be expected to spend all their time and energy here. That’s why environmental improvement measures that are hardly felt on the individual level but make tremendous change nationally/globally should be the top priority. Personally, I am glad when I meet someone who is in a position to perform a valuable service to humanity or nature where I may lack in time or practice. “Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something.”

The idea that people are the only living things that matter is an outdated viewpoint. “Dominion” from the Old Testament has been a problematic word in our perceptions of it. I can’t believe we still need to have this discussion in 2022. Diversity is the answer. Other beings (and other people too) are allowed and encouraged to thrive also and their thriving also helps you to thrive too; like it or not and maybe you’ll need to humble yourself a bit here, this is the case.

Feeling pressure or shame about having to drive is not something that should be added to your plate. The average person already has enough going. Transportation should not be this destructive. Something is wrong with this picture. Technology makes other forms of power available. But the current reality is that industry owns the day.

I am registered as unaffiliated, but this is what I do like about the Democratic party. The largest industries are regulated and required to carry their share, both in environmentally sound practices and in taxes. Helping other people and even nature to thrive also is a Democratic principle that I like; it certainly hasn’t been a Republican one. Biden seems to be making some positive changes for nature (and people too, it’s not mutually exclusive). I’m glad to see this.

People hear about ecologists or biologists being concerned about a certain bird or field mouse and this gets a lot of heat, thought of as frivolous and nonsensical. What some may not realize is that while this may not be the be-all, end all, we see these as indicators, symptoms of a greater systemic problem. These are pointing to unhealthy ecological communities, ecosystems and a troubled earth. Many of these natural systems are in danger of collapse. This matters; all of these affect us, like it or not. I don’t need to go into the details of the reasons for this. Air pollution is just one aspect already severe in Utah alone and now it’s going to get worse. Species in their varieties are another issue, but one that still impacts us. Many of them perform a valuable service to humanity. Nature will do this when we let it. That is the beauty of it. Like it or not, we are part of nature, not separate from it, and certainly not above it. It performs these services naturally, just doing what those plants, animals and fungi do. Don’t fool yourself or live in perpetual denial. These changes to the climate on earth absolutely affect us.

The fact that we’re still having this conversation and that policies are being debated and antagonized in 2022 about whether or not giagantic industries should have to be required to extend the least possible effort in reducing environmental problems is just foolish. It represents a major disconnect. It’s concerning, actually. What if industries were to voluntarily reduce their impact and thus do away with the need to be regulated? Reaching a point of actually being satisfied and ceasing constant exponential growth? Wow, there we go; imagine that! Now that is real change, an idea that works and not only one that works, but there would be a leader of a gigantic industry that would be willing to forego what is essentially pocket change to provide a service to fellow beings, humans and nature. Now that would be a good move, real change.

Yet, here we are…

-Owen

Related writings:
Snow. Melt. Blow.
January Rain
Are You Loving the Snow?
Awake.