| At an event at the Sustainability Resource Center | | | | also means understanding your intimate |
| at the Sedona Public Library, I was asked an | | | | connection with the economy. That connection is |
| interesting question. “What are five things | | | | more than getting a paycheck and shopping at |
| people can do to become more sustainable?” | | | | your favorite stores. Economy comes from the |
| Frankly, I was surprised by the question, though I | | | | Greek and means to manage your home or |
| should not have been. I’ve been engaged in | | | | where you live. At the global economic level, it is |
| the dialogue on sustainability for more than 20 | | | | how we manage our lives and the resources on |
| years now. But I’ve never been asked that | | | | Earth. |
| particular question before. | | | | Whenever you buy something, you are telling the |
| After giving a fair response to the question, I | | | | economy that you want more of that thing. If it |
| began thinking about the guiding principles for living | | | | is locally made by people who earn a living wage, |
| sustainably. I like simplicity when it comes to | | | | you are saying, “Do more of that. I like |
| guiding principles. The more I think about it, the | | | | that.” If you buy cheap products made by |
| more I know that there is one thing we all can do | | | | near-slave labor in Asia, you are saying, “Do |
| to live more sustainably, and that is to Live | | | | more of that. I like that.” But do you like that? |
| Consciously. It was that realization that led to the | | | | Do you like encouraging the continuation of |
| development of the Living Consciously Forum in | | | | destitution in other parts of the world for your |
| Sedona. | | | | convenience here? If not, and you continue to |
| So, do I think that most people are now living | | | | shop at big box stores instead of buying locally, |
| unconsciously? Do I think that people sort of | | | | you are living unconsciously. |
| bump around in a kind of fog, doing whatever | | | | The same holds true of your investments. Jan |
| they do in a day without being truly aware of it? | | | | Bryan is a consultant in socially responsible |
| Well, yes, that is exactly what I think. As a | | | | investing from Prescott. At our Living Consciously |
| person who has done precisely that at times in | | | | Forum, she showed ways to make good money |
| my life, I know how easy it is to live | | | | on your investments by supporting companies |
| unconsciously. In fact, our entire consumer-based | | | | that uphold your values and work towards |
| economy is built on developing a population that | | | | sustainable development. “We find that |
| lives unconsciously. For, if people were truly | | | | companies that have better safety and |
| conscious of how they lived, they wouldn’t | | | | environmental records, that offer better |
| continue to be thoughtless consumers. If people | | | | employee benefits and support their local |
| lived differently, they wouldn’t shop where | | | | communities often have better management than |
| they were told to shop, buy whatever they were | | | | other companies,” explained Bryan. “There |
| told to buy, eat what they were told to eat, vote | | | | are good companies all around us. You just have |
| for whomever they were told to support, and on | | | | to do a little research before you invest.” |
| and on. | | | | That too is part of Living Consciously. |
| Okay, so what do I think Living Consciously | | | | Connecting with Your Community Living |
| means? To me, it means being aware of who | | | | Consciously means being engaged with your |
| you are. It means appreciating how you are | | | | neighbors and the community around you. Here in |
| connected to all things. It means understanding | | | | Arizona, around 17 percent of the eligible voters |
| how the everyday decisions you make impact | | | | actually vote in the primary elections where the |
| people, communities and the environment in ways | | | | slate of candidates is chosen. It’s from those |
| that you cannot immediately see. It means | | | | candidates that we select our representatives in |
| allowing that knowledge of your connectedness to | | | | government. So, do they represent only 17 |
| guide you. | | | | percent of the people of Arizona? No, they are |
| Mindfulness – An Important Part When I | | | | representing all of Arizona, even though all of |
| describe Living Consciously in these terms, I am | | | | Arizona did not vote for them. |
| asked, “Is this like Mindfulness?” As I | | | | Similar numbers hold true in states around the |
| understand Mindfulness, it is a practice of | | | | country. We are living unconsciously when we |
| becoming intentionally aware of your thoughts and | | | | either don’t vote or don’t take the time |
| actions in the present moment. The practice can | | | | to find out who the best candidates are before |
| be done during meditation, becoming aware of | | | | we do vote. Television advertising is the resource |
| your breathing and what you are thinking, for | | | | for the unconscious. For many, our recent election |
| example. Or it can be practiced during normal | | | | is an example of the power of 30-second sound |
| activities, becoming aware the sun on your face | | | | bites. For the conscious among us, this recent |
| and your own internal monologue about your | | | | election was an example of grassroots |
| experiences as you walk along. | | | | engagement that might lead to the changes we |
| In many ways, Mindfulness is part of Living | | | | need in the world. |
| Consciously. Developing an awareness of yourself | | | | Barbara Litrell, president of Keep Sedona Beautiful |
| in time and space is an important step. However, | | | | and a volunteer with a number of other |
| practicing Mindfulness also involves being | | | | organizations, spoke at the Living Consciously |
| non-judgmental about what you are doing and | | | | Forum about engaging with the community. She |
| thinking. Living Consciously involves making | | | | said that becoming engaged need not require that |
| judgments all the time. | | | | you give up your life. Just take the time to check |
| Connecting with Nature Being aware of your | | | | in on local politics to learn what’s going on and |
| connections with the natural environment around | | | | why. Help out with a fund-raiser for a local |
| you is also a key component of Living | | | | nonprofit that supports something you care about. |
| Consciously. As the outdoor guide, Steven | | | | Attend the public forums to learn about the issue |
| “Benny” Benedict put it at the Living | | | | affecting you, your family and your neighbors. |
| Consciously Forum, it is discovering the synergies | | | | Then share your opinions with your elected |
| between you and nature. We, like all other living | | | | representatives. |
| things, depend on natural systems for our survival. | | | | Be a Good Neighbor Connecting with your |
| For example, plants take the sunlight, water and | | | | community begins with being a good neighbor. |
| nutrients from the soil, and, using photosynthesis, | | | | When someone new moves into the |
| grow stalks, leaves and fruit. And in the process, | | | | neighborhood, stop by to welcome them. |
| they take in carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) | | | | Introduce them to others. Help them feel at |
| and give off oxygen critical to life. | | | | home. It doesn’t take much to create good |
| We depend on this process of plants for our food | | | | feelings that can help you get through future |
| and the very air we breathe. In a basic way, we | | | | problems, like barking dogs or late-night parties. |
| have a symbiotic relationship with plants. When | | | | Being a good neighbor is actually fun. When you |
| we are Living Consciously, we help plants thrive | | | | engage people in line at the grocers or at a City |
| so that we may thrive. When we live | | | | Council meeting, you get to develop a larger circle |
| unconsciously, we encourage the destruction of | | | | of friends and allies. If you hear an ugly rumor |
| plants, such as the loss of vast tracts of forests | | | | about someone, take a little time to call that |
| used to create junk mail. With that destruction, | | | | person and check out the facts. Most of the time, |
| we threaten our own existence by killing off | | | | rumors turn out to be untrue, and little |
| “the lungs of the world.” | | | | consideration saves a lot of trouble later on. |
| Connecting with the Economy Living Consciously | | | | |