For the month of November, I’m going to buy nothing. Why? Well, lots of reasons. But above all, it’s to illustrate a point about the Hard Sell of Sustainability.
The Hard Sell of Sustainability: to avert the worst of the climate crisis, we need to consume less. Less resources, less energy, less cheap crap shipped over from China. The people profiting from business as usual want us to believe that some new technology, or recycling more, will save us. But that’s just a greenwashing coat of paint, on a house that needs new foundations.
And that’s a hard sell, because we’ve been fed from birth that consumption is what makes us happy. So, consuming less means being less happy. Who the heck wants to be less happy!?
But with the Hard Sell comes the Gentle Promise. Yes, we must change how we live our lives. But the changes will make it better. We can stop looking for happiness where we won’t find it, and start looking where we will…in nature, in community, in our selves.
So for the month of November, I’m going to buy nothing. And more importantly: I’m going to buy nothing, while still trying to have the happiest, most fulfilling month of my life.
And when I say nothing, I mean absolutely nothing! No food, even…I can get enough from dumpster diving. No “stocking up,” which feels like cheating. I won’t get too into the nitty gritty here (maybe that’s a future post?), but it’s gonna be a spartan time. And I’m looking forward to it!
I’m looking forward to throwing dance parties in my parlor. To hiking in the woods near my house. To spending time with my loved ones. To spending time with myself.
One reason I choose this month is Buy Nothing Day, a nascent holiday on the Friday after Thanksgiving. It’s kind of a counter-holiday to that other one…you know, the one where people get trampled to death.
If you’re joining me in spirit this month, you can also join me in person! I’ll also be hosting a party on Buy Nothing Day in Arlington, MA at the Calvary Church, who are generously allowing me to use their space. There’ll be a free stuff swap, music, refreshments, and just general communal vibes. You can find all the info here…hope to see you there!
(Note from future self…it happened and was awesome, you can’t do it anymore but you can read about it.)
Good luck doing less consuming, and more cultivating.
Thousand Year Picnic 