From the Editor's Computer
I have been having a very interesting email exchange with one of my friends for the past week.
My friend has quit her corporate job to work in the service sector with people. You’d think she would be excited about this new phase in her life, but she approached it kicking and screaming the whole way. Those of us who know her think that it is about time. Her caring nature and ability to put people at ease, her humorous approach and ability to create a nurturing atmosphere around her, make her a natural for her new life. But she doesn’t really see that...we do, but she doesn’t.
Now, it would not be surprising at all to find someone very reluctant and downright bullish about doing something they have never done. You want me to WHAT?!?! (bungie jump, speak in public, organize a large function, take on a larger opponent, or whatever it may be). We are often hesitant to try new things or step out of the comfort zone.
On the other hand, I find it interesting how we fight tooth and nail, clinging to our (distorted) perceptions of ourselves, rather than do something that is as natural to us as breathing. If something comes that easy to us why do we find excuses and reasons not to do it? We can’t use the excuse it is too hard or we don’t know how, but we can sure come up with pages and pages of other excuses.
What skill or talent do you have that is so easy you can’t believe everyone can’t do it? Are you sharing skill or talent with others?
From the Editor's Computer
Did you hear...a community in Manitoba wants to do away with the plastic grocery bag. San Francisco apparently already has a bylaw in effect regarding the usage of plastic grocery bags. The city is issuing cloth/canvas bags to residents for their shopping needs.
I find it interesting how we seem to “go back in time” every so many years or decades. The disposable plastic grocery bag was once a marvel and a wonder, freeing people from the need to carry around their own cloth bags. Now the plastic grocery bag is something to be shunned in favour of the environmentally friendly alternative - cloth bags.
The same thing happened with flooring not that long ago. For years and years people had wood floors. The really lucky ones may have had a throw rug or two for warmth. Then wall-to-wall carpet came in and everyone jumped on the bandwagon. Carpet was warmer, allowed for greater creative expression and made a home more welcoming. Then we heard that carpet had harmful chemicals, trapped diseases and allergens, and was one of the reasons for so much sickness. Next thing you know everyone is going for wood or laminate flooring. Yes, we’ve come full circle yet again.
Everyone of us has the opportunity and the responsibility for making wiser, healthier choices in our lives that have the best (or least) impact on the environment in which we live. What are you doing today to make the world a better place?