When the Eagles penned 'Life in the Fast lane ' in 1976 I don't think they imagined just how fast that lane would become.
Life in the fast lane
Surely make you lose your mind
Life in the fast lane
Everything all the time.
The Eagles could not have realized that "everything, all the time" would become a reality with the advent of Amazon. Need tweezers delivered in 24 hours? Amazon Prime will box them up in protective packaging, put them on a gas-fueled truck and have it at your home in time for you to pluck that chin hair before your next social event. Need McDonald's fries STAT? Door Dash will have them at your door before you can spin off the imminent calories on your Peloton. We have become a nation of saying YES to all the things!
But at what cost does this convenience come? Our planet is suffering from over consumption.
In an article in National Geographic Christopher Flavin, president of Worldwatch Institute states, "Rising consumption has helped meet basic needs and create jobs but as we enter a new century, this unprecedented consumer appetite is undermining the natural systems we all depend on, and making it even harder for the world's poor to meet their basic needs."
"Most of the environmental issues we see today can be linked to consumption," said Gary Gardner, director of research for Worldwatch.
In her 2016 book, 'Year of Yes', Shonda Rhimes, the uber-talented creator and show runner of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder, encouraged people to say Yes in order to confront their fears and become more open to new experiences. Anyone who knows me knows I whole-heartedly agree with that sentiment. Go boogie boarding in the frigid waters of New England on New Year's Day? Yes! Stay in an isolated treehouse in the middle of the Peruvian Amazon? Yes! Rhimes, an introvert, was pushing herself to get outside of her comfort zone. I would encourage everyone to say Yes... to doing things that scare you on a regular basis and to say Yes to experiences over things. Last year our family decided to give experiences instead of gifts. One of our most fun "gifts" was an evening of curling as a family. We've had fewer presents under the tree the past few years but many more happy memories. After Christmas when it came time to take out the garbage, we were pleased with how little we had.
My friend Cybele Sack posted on Facebook about 2021 being the year of saying No. "NO to destroying the environment, NO to harming for profits, NO to discrimination, NO to taking credit for other people's work, NO to being a jerk. Just NO."
In her book, Rhimes also encourages people to "Say Yes to Saying No. Learn to say ‘no’ to things and people that are sucking the life out of you."
I would add, say No to Racism, bullying, mean-spiritedness, No to excess consumerism and to wanting all the things.
Say Yes to going outside your comfort zone, Yes to adventure and Yes to new experiences.
Here's to a more thoughtful 2021 where we consider the wider impact of our decisions.
The earth will thank-you. You will thank-yourself.
Contributed by co-founder Maria Bromley
For more info on the impacts of consumerism on the earth check out:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2004/01/consumerism-earth-suffers/#close