I just cancelled my home and auto policy with Liberty Mutual because they and State Farm are happily insuring new fossil fuel projects. I switched to Amica and actually saved money. I will also walk across the street in Freeport to Patagonia for all of my NECESSARY outdoor clothing. They truly care about climate change.
OH good, Tom. I didn't know about LIberty Mutual. Your post is helpful both in naming Liberty but also in identifying an alternative.
And YES to Patagonia! They are the ideal company now for trying to both make a profit and care about the ecosystems that provide the raw materials for their products. As opposed to that place across the street that is tearing down an huge part of their store in order to use up massive amounts more resources just to look good. What they had before was just fine.
Thank you Kathleen. Anger has its place. But as you suggest, it doesn’t have to be in opposition to wisdom and compassion. It can lead to effective action.
Looking at the list of donors to the inauguration, and dropping patronage as much as possible. Sacrifice is the name of the game right now. It is probably impossible to get this one perfect. We drive cars, we buy gasoline, we buy food. The layers of embedding are beyond knowing.
But we can do better. We can buy local. We can educate ourselves as to who has supported the Orange Nightmare (Home Depot, Walmart, Hobby Lobby). And shop less at these places. The fact of Amazon etc. is that we are all trying to save money. And we need to. But if money is still our driving force, then we are still part of the problem, and not the solution.
Yes yes Beth!! Thanks for your suggestions about Home Depot, Walmart and Hobby Lobby. And I like your use of the word less. Instead of never. if we get too rigid about it we will defeat ourselves, I fear. And you are so right, the "layers of embedding are beyond knowing." But we can try!!
Thanks Kathleen! I do think it's time for anger and rage to be expressed. We've been playing nice for too long. I depart from new age thought around that, because I think it's enabled people to be seduced by thinking that spirituality is only love and light and politeness. There is a balance to be aware of, always dynamic. So I do feel anger is justified. It isn't the same as hatred, it's a protective and very feminine quality when used well. Kali Ma, for example! Thanks for the discussion and important post!
Right on, Kathleen! I’m pissed as hell, too, and finding my way to the things I can do. I did dump Elon and his Nazi platform. Keep roaring—we have a planet to protect.
Support for local Maine businesses is supporting positive alternatives to Amazon. Thrifting is an adventure. Practicing gratitude that we can make choices about which electric car to purchase. Not everyone can afford a car or chooses to use one. Support the Down Easter and other modes of public transportation. Great piece Kathleen!
My teacher wrote about using ones anger as a fuel in the quest for enlightenment. A non polluting fuel that is self-renewing. But I think as my path has wound through the decades, the pool has slowly drained, the anger has dwindled and what little power I can claim to change the world for the better now comes from simple kindness
I just cancelled my home and auto policy with Liberty Mutual because they and State Farm are happily insuring new fossil fuel projects. I switched to Amica and actually saved money. I will also walk across the street in Freeport to Patagonia for all of my NECESSARY outdoor clothing. They truly care about climate change.
OH good, Tom. I didn't know about LIberty Mutual. Your post is helpful both in naming Liberty but also in identifying an alternative.
And YES to Patagonia! They are the ideal company now for trying to both make a profit and care about the ecosystems that provide the raw materials for their products. As opposed to that place across the street that is tearing down an huge part of their store in order to use up massive amounts more resources just to look good. What they had before was just fine.
Thank you for this heads up. It is very hard to find any corporate business today that isn’t in bed with some kind of climate horror.
Thank you Kathleen. Anger has its place. But as you suggest, it doesn’t have to be in opposition to wisdom and compassion. It can lead to effective action.
Looking at the list of donors to the inauguration, and dropping patronage as much as possible. Sacrifice is the name of the game right now. It is probably impossible to get this one perfect. We drive cars, we buy gasoline, we buy food. The layers of embedding are beyond knowing.
But we can do better. We can buy local. We can educate ourselves as to who has supported the Orange Nightmare (Home Depot, Walmart, Hobby Lobby). And shop less at these places. The fact of Amazon etc. is that we are all trying to save money. And we need to. But if money is still our driving force, then we are still part of the problem, and not the solution.
Yes yes Beth!! Thanks for your suggestions about Home Depot, Walmart and Hobby Lobby. And I like your use of the word less. Instead of never. if we get too rigid about it we will defeat ourselves, I fear. And you are so right, the "layers of embedding are beyond knowing." But we can try!!
Thanks Kathleen! I do think it's time for anger and rage to be expressed. We've been playing nice for too long. I depart from new age thought around that, because I think it's enabled people to be seduced by thinking that spirituality is only love and light and politeness. There is a balance to be aware of, always dynamic. So I do feel anger is justified. It isn't the same as hatred, it's a protective and very feminine quality when used well. Kali Ma, for example! Thanks for the discussion and important post!
"Action is the antidote to dispair." Sierra Club
We have had this on our website for the last few years!! Yes yes.
And action funneled up from love and past anger and into resistance!!
Thank you for these suggestions, Kathleen! I am roaring with you! Trying to buy local and second hand as much as possible! ❤️
OH! Such good roaring sounds we can make together!
Buy local and second hand! Yes! Yes!!
Thank you, Kathleen, for pouring out your heart and sharing these powerful and inspiring insights.
Right on, Kathleen! I’m pissed as hell, too, and finding my way to the things I can do. I did dump Elon and his Nazi platform. Keep roaring—we have a planet to protect.
Great to know you are roaring with me Patty!!
Support for local Maine businesses is supporting positive alternatives to Amazon. Thrifting is an adventure. Practicing gratitude that we can make choices about which electric car to purchase. Not everyone can afford a car or chooses to use one. Support the Down Easter and other modes of public transportation. Great piece Kathleen!
Love all these suggestions, Mary.
Thrifting is an adventure and I find better things in thrift stores than I can find in most retail stores. So much fun and so good for the planet.
My teacher wrote about using ones anger as a fuel in the quest for enlightenment. A non polluting fuel that is self-renewing. But I think as my path has wound through the decades, the pool has slowly drained, the anger has dwindled and what little power I can claim to change the world for the better now comes from simple kindness