Can We Change?

I've realised that I cannot begin writing a post and then come back to it. I never do. Instead of deleting the post I began many months ago, I've decided to just share with you what I had written before I stopped. Maybe I will pick it up at another time, possible from a different angle? Feel free to leave a comment or two. The post has not been proof read either.

I began writing one post and realised that I rant quite often instead of writing a piece that can be a diving board for discussion on the particular topic that is making me disgruntled. Hence, I am attempting to create such said diving board. Let me know how I did lol.

Quite often I wonder, can we change? We have been hearing about climate change and loss in biodiversity; we have seen the effects of our actions not only in recent times but essentially from colonial times, if not before, of our negative relationship with the environment. Yet still, after all this time, we cannot live in harmony, or at least diminish the negative effects we have on the environment. I was on Twitter and a friend tweeted about Troy Davis. He had tweeted about this before but today I decided to check out who was Troy Davis and what his story was. I got very perturbed by what I read and decided, after I too tweeted about how stupid it was, to find something else to read about to help me calm down. My Environmental Law prof usually asks at the beginning of class what's going on in the world in terms of Environmental Law, so I decided to check out the environmental news. I came across an article in The Guardian (a British newspaper) about fossil fuel subsidies being cut and monies being given to developing nations to help combat climate change. I thought maybe I would share my two cents of thought on the matter with you.

What do I think needs to be done to combat climate change?I don't think there is any one thing that can be done, neither do I think that any one thing is more important. My opinion is that a combination of efforts need to be executed for there to be sufficient change.
For sure our attitudes need to change. The saying "Without The Earth humans will die, but without humans The Earth will live" is so true! I was born and raised a Christian, so my teachings have said God entrusted The Earth to humans. The mentality that humans have of we can do what we want, how we want with The Earth is ridiculous. Yes, matter and energy are neither made nor created but merely transformed from one form to other is true, however, one thing we clearly forget to take into account is the factor of time. Time from the perspective of a human is instantaneous, very short in comparison to time from the perspective of The Earth. Geologists and other professions in the physical Geography field will tell you that it takes millions of years for the things we see before our eyes to be formed by The Earth. How does it not make sense that the rate at which we are using it up is not sustainable?
This brings me to my next point: We need to reduce our rate of consumption. We live in a very materialistic world, where how much you posses determines you worth and your importance. Hence we crave items, we crave physical demonstrations of how much we have. We purchase and acquire items that we do not need. We obtain them in the name of technology, comfort and standard of living. We waste and get new things for the fun of it and for our own personal enjoyment. At this point I would like to pause and just point out that not once have I said you, or y'all or not included myself in this. I am a part of the problem. I admit. I am not perfect. I am not sitting on a high horse saying this is what you need to do, no. This is what we need to do. But yes, I digressed, as usual. Back to my point. I think I have spoken about this on the blog, or maybe it was the other blog I started and stopped, but did you ever wonder why Reduce was the first R in the 3 Rs? It's because it's the most important of the three! If we reduce the amount of food we eat, the amount of water we waste, the number of shoes we buy, the number of bags we use, if we reduce the amount of resources we consume the effects will be extremely beneficial. How so? you ask. It's simple really - you reduce the rate of consumption. As I said in the first point, the rate at which The Earth replenished itself is a lot slower than that at which we consume it's resources. By reducing the rate of consumption, we help to keep some resources for the future.

T'is The Season

T'is the season to spend plenty money and waste a lot of it. Whether this post will be of any benefit to you or not I have no idea...leave a comment below and let me know.

I want to share with you my thoughts on Christmas/Holiday shopping and gift giving. I just have three things that comes to my mind. If you have more ideas do share. Leave a comment below!

• Wrap gifts in recycled/reused paper. I don't mean go buy recycled gift wrapping paper. No no no. I mean wrapping gifts in news paper or printer paper that you've printed the wrong thing on, old magazines, etc. That kind of thing. There are a few YouTube videos showing how to make gift bows from tissue paper and/or newspaper. You know already, the majority of people don't save their Christmas wrapping paper. 
• Get unique gifts. Don't fall trap to fancy shamcy things. Go to those little novelty stores and get a unique gift to someone. Even if it is a small basket of handmade organic bath products, or a basket of free trade teas and a mug. Steer clear from impersonal gifts. Get something that the person would actually use or want to use. Wasted gifts is such a shame.
• Send electronic cards. Let's be honest....we throw our cards out the next year. Do we even bother to recycle them? Do we even bother to reuse them for the something else such as decoration? Nope. We don't. So save some paper, some trees and the environment. Send electronic cards.

Yup! That's my tip for Christmas. 

Picture Quote

I don't know anyone that doesn't love getting real mail...bills are not real mail hahaha. So send real mail. Forget the email. Show someone you care. If you know me SEND ME SOMETHING!

Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter ... | Video on TED.com

Too good not to share. Broaden your mind and explore your world.

Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter ... | Video on TED.com

Message

Live in colour.

How many times have you said I'll do this later when I have time, when this, when that? Many of us don't seize the moment and really enjoy the little things in life. Buy a camera and if you don't like being in front of it be behind and take pictures. If you can sketch or draw, draw. If you scrapbook, do it! Do it all to remember the good times and if necessary the bad. If remembering the bad helps you remember how far you've come, go for it. But record the triumphs, the victories, the journey. Enjoy the finer things, whether they be the heart on your latte, or a beautiful sunset. Stop reading this and go out and have fun!!!

-The Empress

Words of Wisdom

A friend recently shared this with me and of course I thought it was fitting to share it with you. I'm sure many of you have heard this before of have heard about the general concept before. But here is goes!

The Power of Association.

The Power of Association is too real: "The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity. An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people. As you grow, your associates will change. Some of your friends will not want you to go on. They will want you to stay where they are. Friends that don't help you climb will want you to crawl. Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream. Those that don't increase you will eventually decrease you.
Consider this: Never receive counsel from unproductive people. Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how. Not everyone has a right to speak into your life. You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person. Don't follow anyone who is not going anywhere. With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it. Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life. Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships. If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl, but if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.
"A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses." The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate - for the good and the bad. Note: Be not mistaken. This is applicable to family as well as friends".

-Colin Powell.

Scratching The Surface

I hope this post does not get me in trouble but then again, it does represent what is on my mind which I wish to share with all. I will try my utmost to not paint the picture so that everyone can easily comprehend the real who and what in it without losing the essence of the story.

I am concerned about a friend of mine. There is a yearning within me to mentally engaged with this friend but he seems to not want the same. Maybe I shouldn't say he seems not to want the same, but rather it appears that he isn't seeking the same thing at this current moment. My desire may have stemmed from the fact that many other male friends I have have been able to engage me in deep dialogue on a plethora of topics and even with common topics of life there is some depth the conversation. I understand that not everyone is the same, and this one friend may not be able to compare with my older friends. I was having a conversation with one of my girlfriends who knows this new friend and explained my desire for depth to her and she said something very profound to me - "what if he doesn't have the capacity to do so?" This had never crossed my mind until she said it, but a part of me doesn't want to believe it. I feel as if there is something there, that he has some depth to him, and it may be that it needs to be encouraged and cultured. I would be more than willing to help stimulate that sector of his brain which will stimulate mine as well.

My biggest problem now is how do I test out my hypothesis? How do I get a topic that I think is deep, but not too far in, mentally stimulating as well as something that one can formulate an opinion on regardless of the depth of their knowledge on it? It is difficult for me to begin the conversation about x, y and z but it almost pains me to not do it. I don't want to be awkward, nor do I want my friend to feel awkward as well. Does anyone have suggestions as to how I can ease us into a dialogue?


Thanks for reading my pondering and feel free to leave me a comment with some help. Greatly appreciated.

- The Empress

Who's Talking?

I read an article about conversing and one part said that it's good to read the newspaper and stay abreast with issues going on in the world. I want to take this one step further and say that it's good to read in general, and reading about different things can really broaden your horizon and help you to connect with a lot more people.

I came across this article from Planet Earth Online and thought I would share it with you. It may be something you find interesting and worthy or sharing in a discussion with others.


Happy Reading! and Merry Conversations!

- The Empress

Pass It On

It's not that I truly have anything to say to you. I just wanted to tell you that you are beautiful, intelligent, talented and strong.

Go forth and have a great day today.

7 Common Habits of Unhappy People

Well hello there!

I know it's been a while. Things have just been so crazy right now for me. Anyways, I'm part of a support group which consists of some fabulous women. One of these divas shared with us a link - 7 Common Habits of Unhappy People. I read through it and thought hmmm this is definitely worth the share with those who follow my blog.

Hence I have attached a link to the blog so you go check it out! It's okay to be unhappy occasionally. But when it becomes your constant mood, we've got a problem. So cheers to more happy times in life! After all, we only have one to live.


The Empress