Christmas!

Ahh – Christmas! Time for family, friends, food and gifts! I love the holidays, even if this time of year provides special challenges for those trying to live of low impact or man-, animal-, earth-friendly practices. Food and family can provide year- round challenges. Friends - hopefully none at all. But gifts – gifts can lead to awkward situations. I need to call up Miss Manners to see if there is a specified etiquette for such situations.

You wonder what challenges? Lets take me, for example.

The original goal of this blog was to limit my buying to items that are friendly to man, animal and earth. Extremely difficult, but not impossible I’m sure to the truly dedicated. Maybe one day I can be there, not there yet!

Still, as I’ve written in the past, I am more aware and have changed many buying habits - shampoos, makeup, food. I even turned down the blackberries on sale at Fred Meyer today because they were Nature’s Partner, and let me tell you I LOVE blackberries! So I know I’ve learned something. In fact, I’m way more educated that I ever thought I would be about world events. I get daily emails from organizations like amnesty international, change.org, FINCA, ACCION, Defenders of Wildlife, Farm Sanctuary, Action Aid International and on and on. I sign petitions, make donations, write letters to congress and adjust spending accordingly.
But many people aren’t aware these are priorities of mine. I don’t wear a sign indicating personal preferences. And I’m a little embarrassed to say I specifically avoid such discussions with some acquaintances just because I don’t always know the right things to say to get my point across without sounding stupid.

Being at a party or having a casual gift exchange with such people and receiving gifts on the “banned products” is undesirable but certainly excusable. If I don’t choose to educate them, then I understand this is what happens.

But what about the people that DO know this about me? What about the loved ones that witness these challenges on a daily or weekly basis? What do I say to them?

If there is a product that I feel is so bad, and the State of California even agrees enough with me to put signs on these products that say, paraphrased “use of this product is hazardous to your health” – do I accept this gift without comment?

So that’s the challenge I refer to. Sometimes people are so proud of the gift they buy it’s really hard to let them know it’s not exactly appreciated, even though the thought always is.

So I’m back blogging, really, for at least another 6 months : )

I need to look into so many products that I’ve not got to yet – dog food, toilet paper, laundry soap etc. I know I can do better.

And even though I’m not exactly blogging on vegan subjects, I’ll be attending a vegan blogging conference in Portland. Really looking forward to it – to meeting fellow like-minded people – and also to see an old friend or two in the Portland area. (So if you’re one of these Portland friends be sure to email me back to let me know you’re still around!)

I do have many projects in the works – to be blogged on later.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year Everyone!
life is good