Monday, April 29, 2013

"Control our waist to control our waste. Our actions tell it all." ~ Cynthia G. Creel April 29, 2013











"Control our waist to control our waste.
Our actions tell it all."
~ Cynthia G. Creel 
April 29, 2013




TRASHED trailer (2012) - Environmental documentary with Jeremy Irons:






My Story:

I have friends who run marathons, walk for whichever cancer, help support organizations that feed the hungry and the list goes on and on.  They feel good about what they are doing and many of these things do help, but do they help enough? As the saying goes, "Give a man a fish and feed him for one meal,  teach a man to fish and he can feed himself for life." Many times I think it is difficult to see the difference and we just don't want to think about it more than we have too. It is someone else who will make sure things are done the best way or at all.

Personal growth can happen when a person is physically fit enough to run 26 miles. It is a personal accomplishment add to it a race for the cure and now it feels like much is being done. Donations are collected and totals on money are announced. What happens next? The real work of changing people to be stronger and self sufficiency seems to be traded for a pretty lollipop  idea that can be pointed to how well we have done. The negative effects are overlooked how much it cost in resources to throw the event. Not only in the cost of running it, but the man hours that could have been used else where, the gas used to drive there, the plastic products used to promote, drink from or eat from, the excitement created to build a desire to help.  Are we just hardwired this way to create something extraordinary attention must be created?

 When it comes right down to it, it is the fact of helping people to help themselves that counts. The goal is the same for both ideas the results, I think would be dramatically different if people used the resources in a more intense effort to help others help themselves.  If they understood how important the small things are that dramatically improve the  negative effect on life. What how effective have the resources been used after an event is out of sight out of mind, it will help or will it? Feels like it will anyway. There is always some positive. 


One simple solution leads to control of larger challenges:

The simpler choices cost less and take less time, but give very little results. It has been labor intensive to help my family to change for the better, to help them become independent thinkers to not just buy lunch, but make lunch. To buy  the products that are fair trade exchange of money and something that works well. It seems the simple everyday  actions I take help others in ways more than the dramatic ones. 

One of the best examples of take care of the small events to keep the larger events in life in check was reported by The New York Times (2) reporting how the New York City police department in the early 90's dropped the crime rate over a 3 year period of time by 39 percent in the seven felony crimes.  By taking care of the small crimes that affected hundreds of operations that resold stolen jewellery and car parts, taking care of hot spots of criminal activity quickly by using extra law enforcement, graffiti vandals and drug sellers.  Many working together created a new picture. 

This idea doesn't only count in crime, It could carry over into many areas of our lives. Every time I buy something today, I look at it and think how much will be wasted? The answer is clear.Thinking back three years ago how much trash I produced was considerably more than today.  Out of sight out of mind was my thought pattern. It all looked under control. I never thought twice about going out to eat, just bring home the leftovers. I would often times split a meal and still had leftovers.I felt I was doing my part to control my waste. I saw so many others waste so much more than I, I felt as if I was doing well. I didn't buy as much at the stores or restaurants. That didn't make me great, it made me just slightly less of a problem.


Fast forward 3 and half years later and life changed. I became healthy and my families trash production dropped dramatically. Over 95% of the time I fix my meal, I no longer like take out food, but occasionally still go out to be with friends, not for the food for the friendship. I use all food that comes into the home to eat, drink or recycle back into the land. There are almost no plastic water bottles in my home. I used to buy cases and cases. I use as much as I can and I know I can still improve. I find there not as many boxes, cans, bottles or bags used.  Only what I can not use or recycle I throw away. If one of the large trash cans we use in most of the United States could be picked up every two weeks imagine the savings in gasoline alone.

Reality:


In my lifetime when death rates from car accidents, pollution, hijackings, etc  became too high for people to tolerate change happened to redirect people. Until we hit that point of "have to change because I don't like the stink or the sight of the trash" we will continue to have  waste problem. That will eventually greatly affect the worlds population negatively.  When something is in "your backyard  it becomes important and needs to be addressed. Usually when  people call for actions the end result is a step in the right direction. 


Final words:

What would happen if all the trash each person created had to be disposed of on sight like Their own back yard? Would things change quickly? Garbage collectors strikes show how quickly the mountain of trash builds. the reality is it is still anticipated by many all trash will  be picked up, eventually. What if the trash was never pick up what would most people do? Would the choices that seem so difficult today become easy to control what is bought and consumed?

One of the side effects of being on a Path of True Health is a stronger reason to take care of yourself, help others to help themselves and keep the Earth sustainable. What becomes important is no longer eating out or buying things because it is new. What becomes important are the things that we Truly need to live a "good" life. If the items work rather than if they are the best and most advanced. Self improvement becomes s part of everyday life and indirectly by giving only money. Often times people become more intune to  a need and a better way to help.  Money does help, but it should not be the final thought.  Understanding the reality of our choices may helps to know how to accomplish more with less time, effort and money.

It is clear the longer it takes for the masses to change the more difficult it will be contain the growing mountain of trash on land and water created by the world. . The better a person feels the more likely they will take time to make a better choice for all. There are places in life to have the thrill of running a marathon or personal accomplishments, it is having a a secondary goal of improving the world around us that makes it a better choice. 

Discover a new world. Help yourself, help the world, step on to the Path of True Health and vote with your dollars to create a world you will love to live in. I do, and I like the world I am helping to create. Together we can create a better life for all to remember over their entire life time. Together we can protect what we have so we don't need to live in a world that is second rate. We don't have to be perfect we just have to try to be better everyday. 

By Design ~ “Life is good By Design”


Photo creation by  Cynthia G. Creel all rights reserved ©2013

Cactus in a terracotta pot



all rights reserved ©2013 written permission is needed to duplicate
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of By Design or Cynthia G. Creel. Consultation of a medical professional is highly recommended before any changes are considered. This article is not saying anyone person in a leadership position is unhealthy or healthy, it is just a possibly of many and is only speaking in general terms. .Note: No company mentioned in this article is considered to serve “healthy or unhealthy” food, any examples given  was  only used as an example of how business works though their history and public information. The focus is only to help explain a idea. Statements and conclusions of  any study authors that are presented are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the  policy or position of Cynthia G. Creel or any means the information is published.  There is no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.


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Sources:


(1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UM73CEvwMY

(2) http://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/20/nyregion/new-york-crime-rate-plummets-to-levels-not-seen-in-30-years.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

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