it is no wonder why so many global protests emerged in the
past year. The Arab Spring, the London riots, the global Occupy
movements are each are reflections of growing angst and concern
among people throughout the world. While it is not this simple,
part of the underlying issue is that people feel loss of control over
their life context. The convergence of modern issues is simply
overwhelming for many. And it is time we take back control.
world as it betters you. Sustainability is a state of mind that enables
you to incorporate more critical thinking into your daily behaviors
and relationships as you seek to improve your life context. This
is subjective and can only be defined by you. Many people, when
confronted with sustainability, quickly jump to assembling a
laundry list of "green" things such as switching out light bulbs,
recycling, driving an alternative fueled vehicle, eating organic
foods, or purchasing renewable energy. All of these things are very
important, but they are only actions. Green technologies, products,
available for all consumers. While these products represent options
for improving energy or environmental impacts, these products
still represent fundamental consumption.
Living sustainability requires a long-term commitment to
continuously assess, understand, evaluate options, and take action
on your life context. This includes all of the behaviors that embody
your daily life, including big decisions around how and where you
live, how and where you work, the relationships you have (or do not
have), your consumptive choices and habits, and the framework
by which you live and make decisions including your morals,
values, and beliefs. Living sustainability requires self-assessment
on your definition of happiness, sense of balance and worth, and
desire to have impact throughout your life. Living sustainability is
not just about buying a greener product, it is about asking why
and whether you even need that product in the first place. Living
sustainability is deriving your own set of rules and guidelines that
you are accountable to on a daily basis to bring love, happiness,
wealth and sense of "being" to your own life.