Claiming our primary identity

I've had numerous conversations this past year with a friend about the challenge of identifying, and even justifying, one's status when unemployed.  My walking friend and I have commiserated about how in this society much of one's primary identity is connected to work.  It was a great pleasure to read in a book entitled "Your money or your life" by Vicky Robin and Joe Dominguez who challenge this tendency to link people's primary identity to employment.  They note "Our focus on money and materialism may have robbed us of the pride we can and should feel in who we are as people and the many ways we contribute to the well-being of others.  Our task now is to retrieve that birthright of knowing ourselves as human beings rather than as human doings or human earnings."  They further suggest "Breaking the link between work and money allows us to reclaim balance and sanity."

How refreshing it was to hear others suggesting that work no longer be the primary identifier of our lives.  It is a blessing when the things that we get paid to do also help us to earn a living wage.  However there are many other important, life giving roles that are not linked to wages e.g. those things we do in our roles as friends and family members, community volunteers, developing our creativity and interests, etc.  If we only recognize the value in ourselves by our time at paid work, then what credit do we give to the rest of our time when we're "unemployed" and not on the job?

If your interested in transforming your relationship with money and achieving financial independence, I would recommend a read of "Your MONEY or your LIFE".  To save a few bucks you might want to consider checking it out from the library ;-)

Radical simplicity

I just finished reading Jim Merkel's book Radical simplicity: small footprints on a finite Earth.  Mr. Merkel is an engineer who has radically reduced his own carbon and ecological footprint, and gives tips on why and how others might do likewise.

Merkel noted how since 1978 humans claimed the entire sustainable yield of the earth, and ever since have  been drawing down on resources at an unsustainable rate.  Americans in particular consume a vastly larger "share of the pie" than most others around the world.

He provides charts and tools to help people measure their ecological footprint.  Setting goals to live a richer and simpler lifestyle is encouraged. He also recommends readers to practice advice provided in the book Your Money or Your Life, by Vicki Robbins and Joe Dominguez.

He references the following valuable frugal tips:

• Buy what you need but don't "go shopping"
• Take care of what you own
• Do it yourself
• Anticipate  your needs
• Get it for less
• Buy it used
• Pay off your credit-card balance
• Walk or bicycle to do errands

Lastly Mr. Merkel recommends spending time daily in nature.  He notes the benefits of observing the natural environment and learning how the ecosystem works in a small defined area.

The goal of this book is to help most of us move through the following four stages.

1. Unconscious unsustainability
2. Conscious unsustainability
3. Conscious sustainability
4. Unconscious sustainability

Mr. Merkel's book is certainly a great consciousness raiser while also providing a wealth of ideas about ways to radically simplify ones lifestyle.

Interested in seeing how large a carbon footprint you have?  A website, carbon footprint, can lead you through an analysis.