One thing about Utah that I have come to really like (and if I’m honest, it took getting used to) is the good people and their general willingness to help others out. In the end, it is a labor of love. That is the higher rung of Utah that is available. It may involve a climb.

Hold that thought you funny Californians! Utah is full. Seems like that was on the radio just the other day. Just being funny.

Here we go:

Some of my friends and neighbors and I, simply amidst the general busyness of gardening and living, have become accustomed to borrowing accessories, tools, and sometimes even services. I live in a great area where people are glad to voluntarily help. I say it is a good thing to not get used to this and to not take advantage of this generosity; so quite often, (yet not always) I pay them. I think it is really cool and commendable that we think outside of the hourly wage and do it what I call musician style. It is payment for a gig-traded labor. It is a cleaning project here a gardening or trimming project there. My gardener friend and I found that we often have slightly different routes to similar goals, whether with projects or financially, so we have learned to borrow, trade and even pay for the “occasional gig.” This might be a tool, bin, container, a task, or a myriad of garden accessories. It works out and it goes without saying that there is an unsaid striving for an equal exchange. There is trust that it will be paid forward, back or to the side and we don’t get caught up in the nickel and diming that society does.I like this because our style is organic, based on trust and respect, awareness that it is mutually beneficial; yet it is unofficial; that is, unsaid and unwritten. We don’t stress or burn calories over who owes what; it is trust-based.

Exchanges of services. goods, such as homegrown fruit, vegetables, homemade salsa or bread, or simply repaid with another favor, they all have their merit, their own value of currency. There is no agreement and no contract. It balances out somewhere along the journey and we all know and trust this process. Perhaps roughly depending on size and scope of the project, more money is naturally involved and there is payment for a project from smaller to larger. It is an equal give and receiving to where both get something in the mindset of gratitude. In fact, I have one of these coming right up. I plan to utilize one of my friend’s artistic abilities for a decent-sized gardening project. It has been said that everyone has an inner-artist. I think I’m still looking for mine… At least in the painting and illustration sense; that seems to be a talent that skipped me, but in this particular way, my friend is a true artist. This is efficient borrowing of this particular friend’s artistic ability where I do plan to pay money for what is basically a big favor. I already know I can’t do this necessary job to the level of skill that he can, so in instances such as this I am gladly willing to pay money for it. He’s good at it, he enjoys it, and he is glad to get a little extra cash.

Yet, what I described above, you may notice that this is today’s rarity. “Who does that?!” The short answer is that cooperation, assistance, regular sharing of the abundance has been the mode of humans helping each other live and survive for far longer than not. Actually, everything under the sun (or created by it) costing money is rather new. The buying, stressing, spending, nickeling and diming is a recent addition in human history. Of course there were times when cooperation and sharing worked and times when it didn’t flow as much, but there is no reason why these principles can’t free up modern humanity now. There are no excuses. The timeless principles of interdependence will always put things into perspective and clarify what is important.

Nobody can do it all. It really isn’t wise to try, It is so much easier to borrow, share, divide labor, cooperate, delegate. In the extremes of a consumer-driven society saturation is reached to the point of every man for himself, which leads to extremes in competition, stress, and a widening inequality gap. This “keep up or get out” mindset becomes tall individuality. Yet, how tall do you want to be? How extreme?

Instead, may I recommend friends, neighbors with similar goals and philosophy.

Balance is good. Everyone needs a little extra cash, to save, to have, to blow, to spend or whatever, but it doesn’t have to be the focus of our lives, which is exactly the dominant message of the day. We’re also very busy, what a paradox of our age. With more conveniences than ever before, we are busier than ever before. At least one reason for this is that the attempt is made to do it all by oneself.

Cooperation, honor, respect (even of differences), interdependence with the awareness and reevaluation of needs I submit would be the healing balm that is so needed today. In the end, everyone wants their family, closest friends and loved ones to be healthy, nourished, well fed and happy. And this chain extends to the entire human family. Regular readers, you know that this is the very essence of the Wellness Diaries philosophy.

You should try it, and this is just only small example. My friend and I get some buddy time; it’s time well spent socializing (if we feel like it), time spent outside in the sun or rain surrounded by mommy nature and her abundant gifts. There would be a natural and joyous wane in excess getting, buying, spending, stress, waste and driving. There would also be more unity, another aspect that needs a little TLC these days. Sounds like a win-win-win. This very mode would correct many of history’s mistakes. A completely new dimension to the local concept ay?! Local is in your neighborhood; it means a few houses down.

Like exercise, stress reduction and eating well, learning to need less and want selectively is actually more. The practice takes time, a conscious application of balance and self-discipline throughout the journey. Where there is consistent application of this philosophy and these principles there is always a sigh of relief. Both humanity and the earth feel it. I think Thomas Jefferson would agree. There may be little resemblance today to his time and his party, but I think he would agree.

-O