Our family's Adventure

Around Christmas time, my darling hubby came up with the idea of going without "Made in China." It all started with him coming across a book of the same title, and read another book called "Not Buying It" (which I'm currently reading), and finally we watched the movie "Story of Stuff."(which I highly recommend - A MUST SEE - a free online viewing.) Needless to say, when he said we as a family could try it this year, 2008, I was well-prepped and ready. You can go and see his blog chronicling our journey (though he isn't daily updating it or anything): Our Year Without Made in China

Our own Canadian movement that I've recently found out is called Buy Nothing Day. Their page is also a must see. I'm really new to this becoming "conscious" in my spending habits and materialism. It is very scary to realize how much so I am as well as a tad bit exciting. If I have to put into a quotient, it is 90% scary and 10% exciting. It is exciting because I feel I would feel less entangled than I am now with less "stuff." The image of freedom comes to my mind, and the possibility of it is very attractive and fills me with hope. But the "fear" factor is what suppresses the whole process. I'm telling you, if it wasn't for my darling husband, I wouldn't have the guts to do it on my own. My arms are made of rubber when it comes to neat things and unnecessary spending. I'm thankful that at least we aren't in Japan trying to do this! (Though there won't be any Wal-Mart to tempt us there, the mere social implication of such boycott is just staggering to me. Imagining it is horrifying enough.)

Anyway, the way I see it is, when I was ignorant of the actual workings of these things, I could feign ignorance and continue on with how I was going without feeling a shred of guilt. But once I know, how can I pretend I don't know? Before, whenever I heard "unsustainable practices," it implied producers and manufacturers (i.e. OTHER PEOPLE), but now that I know I, a lone consumer, feeds into this evil downward spiral, I'm forced to submit to doing what I can to be part of turning the tide. That includes supporting local farmers, boycotting Wal-Mart, buying organic whenever possible, Reuse, Recycle, take into account the hidden costs whenever we buy, educate others whenever I can, etc. It maybe small, but as Japanese proverbs say, even dust accumulated can become a mountain. So, filled with good intensions and hope toward a better future for my kiddies, we've embarked on this year of facing our monster "addiction to materialism."

My prediction, in this early part of the journey, is that my darling hubby will come out more unscathed at the end than me. But we shall see...