LOVE IT :: story of stuff

For the past few years I have been more aware of the huge negative impact we are having on the world that we live in. Even though I knew it was my responsibility as a human being, I did nothing. Then I sat back in horror as I watched Al Gore explain what we are really doing to our world....and I knew we needed to change now!

Having children makes me want to become even more active in preserving the world and turning my negative impact into a positive one. So this last year my little family began to do its part---we started to recycle (thanks to my insistent husband), used the proper light bulbs, decided to conserve electricity and water as much as possible, lowered our thermostat (this one is a big battle for me--I hate to be cold), decided to plant a garden this spring, and I have committed to becoming a mostly-paperless office during 2008 and beyond.

Even with all of these changes, its still not enough....and I get the feeling that I could always do more.....instead of finding more responsible ways to reduce our waste--can't we stop creating so much waste? As I look around me even now--there is just so much stuff that I have no idea where it came from or how it got here--not to mention why I needed it in the first place...it certainly has no use to me now, other than collecting dust in the corner.

This holiday season hit me harder than usual with all of the useless things that we buy for each other. Its not that I am ungrateful for the "stuff" that my friends and relatives went out of their way to purchase for me...its just that I really don't need anything, and frankly my children's toys have more space in this house than all 4 of us do. Each Christmas we receive enough toys to occupy a small village of children...yet we only have 2 kids. Wouldn't it be a better holiday tradition to simply give back to the community and skip the presents, or to just get together and enjoy each others company? Would I be an awful aunt/sister/daughter/mother/wife/friend if I emailed everyone a Christmas card this year letting them know that I donated $$ toward a great cause in their name---and then showed up empty handed at family functions? I think not...and luckily it is becoming cool to be eco-friendly and more active on our communities. Why Madyson's cartoons on PBS are even sending out the message so effectively that the other day she insisted that she go out in the snow and save the planet --- starting in our own back yard. What happens when its not cool anymore? Will we go back to the old way again....yikes!

So with all of that in mind (sorry for the rant) I recently stumbled upon an awesome 20 minute video and website dedicated to changing the way we live as consumers--which in turn could change our lives for the better.

Check out some of the teasers below and go to storyofstuff.com to watch the video. I would love to hear your ideas on more ways to change, anyone know about composting?....leave me a comment below and we'll change the world together!

Viva la revolucion!