What’s in a day?
When a day is designated a special day, the intention is to honor the theme of it. On our annual calendar there are some holidays that have turned into a hoopla, diverting us from the original intent. Often we witness a kind of build up that requires planning and promotion, parties and events, sales and give-aways. Unfortunately, it leads to driving, picnicking, carbon emissions and trash. We now have special days dedicated to nature, days that inherently and logically call for an occasion to slow us down.
Earth Day was last month and I stayed in my PJs all day and took a break. I gave the earth a break by not stepping on it. A pseudo off-the-grid performance where I read, wrote, made art, and foraged in my own fridge while in my robe and slippers. My plan includes treading increasingly lighter by reaching beyond one day. (“National Pajama Week” is something I can support.)
This month bring us World Ocean Day (June 8th.) World Ocean Day is a call to action for the protection of our oceans. I already have started preparing for it. I will by watching these two videos again:
Video one
Video two
Next, I will visit the Fake Plastic Fish website to begin the “Show Us Your (Plastic) Trash Challenge.”
My husband and I will be recording an entire week of the plastic garbage we create. Learning about Beth’s (creator of Fake Plastic Fish) adventure in changing her habits shocks us into noticing all the plastic and to begin doing something about it. Fake Plastic Fish is a tool that guides us from a “not so good” place to one that is better. The site is a map made from experience to help us to begin removing plastic from our lives, and proving it can be done.
Days devoted to nature are opportunities to enact what “honoring” actually is, rather than falling prey to a pre-existing model of consuming. As I look at the coming months I see many days to celebrate by slowing down. I see many “pajama days” in my future.
Photo: “Plasticless” oil on canvas dedicated to twitter.com/plasticless
You can also follow Beth twitter.com/fakeplasticfish
June 5th, 2009 at 8:17 am
We have many “pajama” days here in Fake Plastic Fish Land. We love them. So do our kitties. They wear their pajamas 24 hours a day.
Lee, thanks so much for this post. It’s so important to remember that being “green” does not mean buying the latest and greatest “green” product. I just spent this afternoon in a room listening to Captain Charles Moore rant about the crisis of our civilization. It was fantastic.
FYI: Here is the URL for the sub-blog where participants are posting their plastic tallies and photos: http://www.showyourplastic.fakeplasticfish.com/
Beth