What’s Organic

“…maybe am finally beginning to win the battle against my inner evil-american (actually less of a battle than huddled in a corner with hands protecting my head)…”

Though I live in a house that costs less than $500 a month and drive a soon-to-be fourteen year-old car — I am still a consumer. And so do many things that cause ongoing pangs of conscience. For example, I still:

• eat meat from animals grown in factory farms
• buy produce shipped from other countries
• drive more than I walk or bike
• shop at big box stores (tho’ less and less, see Core Values)
• use plastic bags and bleached paper products
• pay money for things Made In China

There are SO MANY things I do that I shouldn’t. And it seems death is the only way for anyone to successfully kick all these lazy, undisciplined, self serving, typical-demographic habits.

But as to the Made In China item on the list above, maybe am finally beginning to win the battle against my inner evil-american (actually less of a battle than huddled in a corner with hands protecting my head).

Here it is: was in a clothing store yesterday looking for socks and saw something new, “Made In China” was printed smack on the front of a paper label, just below the brand name. And I didn’t want to buy the socks. Then started looking at all the other “Made Ins” (most on the back next to the bar code) and didn’t want those either. I just walked out with no socks (new ones anyway).

There’s no question my values and behavior are beginning to creep closer and closer toward each other. And that it’s been an organic process (actually my mother once gave me a pair of organic socks). If only in the sense that it’s occurring naturally, without the imposition of rules or force.

Have always saved the iron will for live-or-die things like quitting drinking or escaping life-threatening living situations. Having had my share, I’ve given myself a lot of permission to blow off other difficult choices about things I really care about.

Am probably like many other good people out there: just trying to get by is so much work that even THINKING about the hard job of changing habits — much less leaving a life-style — is too much. And someone else saying that you should can be more than irritating.

This is where starting small comes in (and if you’ve read this far, thanks).

Mulling over my new, stronger reaction to the Made In China label, especially against the backdrop of the Rochester “Localvore” movement being led by folks in the neighborhood, I see a possible plan. I can’t be No Impact Man, but if I can walk away from products made in China without having to invoke any kind of a moral/ideogical head-trip, then greater things really are possible.

When it just feels natural to not share my cash for something made in China, then I can see where it might soon feel natural not to eat a pig unless that pig has enjoyed a good life. Or buy brussel sprouts in May or grapes from South America. All I have to do is read the fine print and check how I really feel about it. Because it can be surprisingly easy to walk away.

That’s what I mean by start small. Do the one good thing that feels easy, and pay attention to opportunities to make similar choices. And the internal schizophrenia of wanting to do right but also wanting to make it through the day might be reduced to manageable levels…