Throwing Away My Old Attitude

I remember vividly an instance when my Grandma, normally a very calm and composed woman, became upset to the point of tears. We had just completed a food filled weekend with the entire family, and my aunts were throwing away large amounts of leftover food. The sight of us being so wasteful was just too much for my grandma.  I remember feeling so guilty that my grandma upset. In a way, I felt like we had disappointed her. She grew up having a great respect for everything that she had, and recognized that not everyone was afforded those luxuries. Food could be reinvented, and eaten again. Clothes could be passed down. Items could be mended instead of thrown away. And what the family did not want, there was surely a beggar that could make good use of it. My grandma raised her family to be resourceful!

Something over the generations got lost in translation. Water, heat, electricity, clothes, food... I have been blessed to have never gone without the essentials. Nevertheless, instead of being cognizant of my blessings, I am ungrateful and wasteful. Every since I have moved out independently, and pretty much lived a life of convenience, my wastefulness has gone up ten fold. I will grocery shop, and then never get time to cook (or too lazy to cook) and then end up throwing out the spoiled food. Sometimes, I forget to shut the lights off, and leave them on while I am away. At times, I have eaten in paper plates just because I did not want to do the dishes. I am sure the list goes on.

 

I have decided to change this pattern of extravagance. My aunt re-inspired me! She used wool from old sweaters, to re-create new scarves for the whole family. So recently, I have made it a point to only purchase what I know will get eaten. I have even decided to take after my beloved grandma, and try and reinvent food. In high school, I went on a no plastic diet for 8 months- I would love to do that again but unfortunately, I don't think I am as disciplined anymore. Still, I will use glass plates and metal cutlery on all occasions unless I am entertaining. I will be mindful of how much paper, water, electricity, etc that I use.

 

My wastefulness really hit me yesterday. The pipes were frozen, and I had just come home from work, and really wanted to take a shower (yucky hospital germs). The only water I had access to was freezing cold tap water. So I literally took two pots, and boiled some water on the stove. After mixing it with some freezing tap water, I was able to give myself a bath with just two pots of water! Just two pots! It's crazy to think that my normal fifteen minute shower could be consolidated into two pots! I love my showers, and I honestly don't think I am going to give them up or probably not even going to cut down, but I do have an all new appreciation for them.

 

Real talk: There are millions of people out there struggling to meet their basic needs. I, on the other hand, have been lucky and blessed to have all that and more. I may not be able to end world hunger & poverty, but I can certainly do my part and be aware of how I use resources surrounding me. One day, I will want to teach my children about not being wasteful, and being part of a global community... I can only do that, if I walk the walk.