Consumption: Week 1 of No Paper Cups and Joining a Credit Union

For IDP's Responsible Consumption Month we are committing to working mindfully with the momentum of our consumption habits and each choose specific areas of focus.  Here is my pledge:

• For the month of April I will be mindful of using paper cups, "to-go" containers and plastic bags.  Also I will open an account with a credit union so that my money is managed by a non-profit member-run financial institution rather than a for-profit Wall-Street-run banking corporation.
• I am doing this to engage more deeply with the concept of Right Action in my daily life.

I am interested in exploring the habitual use-and-throw-away mentality especially in relation to food and drink.  Also I am curious about manifesting responsible consumption in the arena of personal finance.

Paper Cups

To be perfectly honest (and why blog otherwise) I got a cup of tea on April 1st and it came in a paper cup.  You see, I wasn't really planning on having tea, I was actually meeting a friend for a walk in the park.  But when we met at the appointed spot and time it was pouring rain so... we went to have a cup of tea at a nearby cafe.  It wasn't so much of a cafe as it was a deli with a sit-down area on the second floor so they had no to-stay cups.  And I didn't actually even remember responsible consumption until I had the paper cup in my hand.  With the cardboard sleeve to boot.  Yes, a very very bad naughty yogi. 

Just kidding.  Instead of feeling guilty I laughed and explained to my friend about the month of responsible consumption.  I also mentioned the magic ingredient (and possibly the greatest wisdom of all), kindness. 

So yes, I did use one paper cup already this month, but what it made me realize is that I need to be better prepared.  I'm going to get a nice thermos (or find one in my cupboard) to carry around with me.  Or, if I don't have a thermos in my bag, then I'll simply forgo the beverage served in the earth-depleting disposable vessel. 

Unless I don't forgo.  Mindfully.

Credit Union

My feelings about joining a credit union are a little more tricky, or convoluted.  I love the idea of moving my money to a non-profit financial institution. But the hassle... the hassle!! Eeep.  It terrifies me.

I have a mental block, or maybe a mental hurricane, that appears whenever I contemplate my finances.  Taxes 2011, anyone? 

What I can do is research: ASmarterChoice.org.  Make phone calls.  Fill out paperwork.  Get some papers notarized.  That doesn't sound so bad.  I'll let you know how it goes!

Meanwhile let's all bring a touch more mindfulness to our consumption of the earth's resources, finite as they surely are.  And let's also practice kindness alongside that mindfulness.  Make it sweet, folks!

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We are on this journey as a community.  Read all the Responsible Consumption posts and follow along as we examine our habits.

Interested in participating?  Sign the Pledge