The Bicycle

Reading my earlier post about the benefits of owning less makes me appreciate how much I offer advice to help both others and myself. No one is perfect.

As I write this I am haunted by thoughts of the Schwinn I've kept chained outside of my apartment for a year. I acquired the bike as a gift from an Angelica Kitchen customer who wanted to offer me an easier way of getting to yoga classes. When I first got the bike I imagined myself carelessly weaving in and out of city traffic while my afro cut the wind on my way to a daily yoga class. In reality: 1. I have never felt safe riding a bike on the street. 2. I would never ride without a helmet, even in the park. 3. My helmet gives me horrendous matted down hair. A bike day is not a good hair day. 4. I don't even enjoy yoga.

I have rode the bike less than a dozen times. My neglect of the condition of said bicycle makes me cringe with embarrassment. I feel guilty about letting it languish while there are children and hippies who would kill for an amazing candy-striped Schwinn like mine. Oy vey! I need to get rid of this thing.

Sometimes I even fantasize about someone stealing it.



The real reason I share this story is because it's not about the bicycle. It's about how my guilt about being different than I'd like to be is causing me to keep an object that doesn't fit my lifestyle. For some reason, I really want to be that careless chick trekking through town in pursuit of yoga and doing it with perfect big hair! I hold onto the bike because I believe I will one day become that girl and perhaps owing the bike brings me closer to that goal. If I were my client, I'd give myself a hug and remind myself that I'm fantastic the way I am. I'm too big of a personality to even try to squeeze into this stereotypical urban bohemian archetype that I've somehow latched onto. Why do I feel guilty when I should be proud of being unique? Perhaps there will be a day in the future when I want to ride a bike to yoga class. Letting go of things is an act of faith in the Universe. I have to trust that when I am ready a bike will find me again, just like all the wonderful blessings like food, friends, and freedom have found me now.

Was there ever a time you kept something because it symbolized your desire to be different than you are? Please leave a comment. Please also leave a comment if you're interested in my bike!

Olivia Lane is a Blogger, Green Living Educator, and Health Coach trained at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She's also author of Baking Soda & Bliss: The Healthy & Happy Guide to Green Cleaning.   

 

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3 Reasons Why Owning Less is More

Here are three reasons I am happy to have committed to reducing the number of objects I own. I hope that these reasons will serve as an inspiration to you if you are in the process of downsizing. I know that these benefits motivate me to re-evaluate my possessions on a nearly daily basis.

"Nancy and Olivia" by Alice Neel. The subjects are Neel's daughter-in-law and granddaughter. This portrait seems to say a lot about familial ownership.

1. I truly recognize, experience, and appreciate the value of every object that I own.
2. I can enjoy walking through a store, even the uber-lovely Anthropologie, to just appreciate the ingenuity and craftsmanship that went into an object without having to evaluate if I can afford it or bother thinking about what I'd do with it. It's sort of like the effect of strolling through a museum. I'm not filthy rich so I can't afford an Alice Neel portrait, but you best believe I went to visit her exhibit at the Whitney weekly the summer of 2000. (I got in for free with my CUNY ID!) I will always fondly remember those visits.
3. Every object that I own is something I have to be responsible for. I must be responsible and exhaustively inquisitive when acquiring objects: Is it Fair-trade? Vegan? Local? Organic? And, if it's being sold on a blanket on Avenue C, I can't help but wonder did  the salesman steal it for crack money? Or does it have bed bugs? Once I own an object, I must store it and maintain it in good condition. Once I don't want the object anymore, I must consider if it's life post-Olivia. I have to come up with either a donation plan or a plan for responsibly disposing of it. Blah blah blah blah blah. Why bother? Less ownership equals less responsibility which equals less headache! Less headache means more time to enjoy the things I do own and, more importantly, to enjoy my life experiences.

Olivia Lane is a Blogger, Green Living Educator, and Health Coach trained at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She's also author of Baking Soda & Bliss: The Healthy & Happy Guide to Green Cleaning.   

 

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#1 Way to Manage Clutter in Small Living Spaces: Own Less Stuff

Since recently declaring myself an authority on home organization, people often ask me how they can manage the clutter in their small living spaces. My reply is always, "Own less stuff." I believe minimizing is key to living a green happy life.

While clever shelves, files, and hooks are fantastic organizing tools, there is a limit to how much these devices can help manage clutter. Even if you all your belongings are contained within or hanging from brilliant organizing doo-dads. And even if you sleep in a Murphy bed and have only miniature folding furniture besides that, you will still eventually reach a saturation point if you do not stop accepting objects into your home.

You might not think the command to own less is realistic. Perhaps you've pared down your possessions or you've always lived pretty simply and can't imagine living with less. However, those of us without the option of obtaining more living space often literally meet a inflexible brick wall. Once all organizing devices have been explored and we still have little to no space, we must recognize and cull those objects we do not need to lead a meaningful life.

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself when deciding whether or not to keep something.

• Would I rather have this object or the space it occupies? 
• Had I forgotten that I even owned this object before re-discovering it buried within a drawer, closet, etc? How was life "without" this object? 
• How often do I use this object? Considering this, is it practical to own the object or is it possible to rent it or co-own it with a neighbor or friend who has more storage space? 
• Can I properly care for (and maintain) this object?
• Will I want to still own this object when I am ninety? (If you're already ninety, ask yourself if you'd want to burden your children with having to sort through this object in addition to your other belongs once you've passed away.)
• Why should I own this?

If you need further inspiration for downsizing, consider this quote from English craftsman and poet William Morris (1834-1896): "Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

Please visit my blog again tomorrow. I'll write about the benefits of owning less stuff.

Olivia Lane is a Blogger, Green Living Educator, and Health Coach trained at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She's also author of Baking Soda & Bliss: The Healthy & Happy Guide to Green Cleaning.   

 

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Watch Plastic Planet

Check out Plastic Planet, an animated short film that artfully illustrates how plastic waste affects our planet. I found this via Beth Terry (a.k.a. @PlasticFreeBeth on Twitter) of My Plastic-Free Life. This short will probably bum you out so be sure to explore Beth's website and learn ways to reduce your plastic consumption. 



Note: This is different from the feature length documentary, also called Plastic Planet.

Olivia Lane is a Blogger, Green Living Educator, and Health Coach trained at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She's also author of Baking Soda & Bliss: The Healthy & Happy Guide to Green Cleaning.   

 

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Your Weekend Plans! March 25 to March 27

Here are several really awesome weekend events that require no Metrocard if you've got a good pair of walking shoes.

1. Support The Bed-Stuy Farm Share (a CSA) by attending the lovely Melissa Danielle's "Birthday Presence" at Peaches Pantry. Bonus: You can win 4 hours of my services if you enter the raffle! Friday, 7 to 10pm, Bed-Stuy. (Info and RSVP.)
2. Score and share clothes at the Brooklyn Clothing Exchange's swap*meet at the Macon Branch Library. Saturday, 11:30am to 3:30pm, Bed-Stuy. (Info & RSVP)
3. Drop off your broken cell phone and dead laptop at the 5th Avenue Electronic Waste Recycling Event. Saturday, 10am to 4pm, Park Slope. (Info.) 
4. Let Leda Meredith teach you how to preserve food by canning and picking at The Commons Brooklyn. Saturday, 1 to 3pm, Boerum Hill. (Info & Register.)
5. Interested in joining a community garden? Prospect Heights Community Farm is holding a meeting. Saturday, 2pm, Prospect Heights. (Info.)
6. Brooklyn Mutt Show II at the Brooklyn Lyceum!!!!!! A fundraiser for B.A.R.C. shelter and a brilliant spectacle for those of us who love dogs but don't have one. Saturday & Sunday, 11am to 7pm, Park Slope/Gowanus. (Info.)
7. "Spring into Action" and participate in a class or two or all those remaining in the 40 Days of Yoga marathon. Sunday, 10am & 2pm, Fort Greene. (Info.)
8. Yoga and pilates classes by donation at LaunchPad. Sunday, All day, Crown Heights. (Info.)
9. Gardening 101 at The Brooklyn Botanical Garden. I'm dying to go and ask all those questions about growing plants that I'd be too embarrassed to ask in another setting. Sadly, this class is full and expensive, but a girl can dream can't she? Otherwise, a girl will just attend the free tour at 1pm. Sunday, 10am to 4pm, Prospect Heights. (Info.)
10. It just feels really awkward to end a list at 9. Anything else worthwhile happening in Brooklyn? What are you doing this weekend? Leave a comment! I might bake pie with my friends this weekend, if I'm lucky. 

Olivia Lane is a Blogger, Green Living Educator, and Health Coach trained at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She's also author of Baking Soda & Bliss: The Healthy & Happy Guide to Green Cleaning.   

 

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Green Guinea Pig: Vodka Armpits

According to today's Dr. Oz Show (please, don't judge me), both white vinegar and vodka fight underarm funk. White vinegar because of the germ blitzing acid and vodka because of the germ killing alcohol. I happen to have both in my cleaning toolkit so after shaving today I spritzed my freshly shaved armpits with hobo-grade 80 proof vodka. (Ouch!) I also applied Tom's deodorant to my right armpit once the vodka had dried. I'll report back with the results tomorrow.


More fun: Try eHow's DIY cheapo vegan deodorant spray with essential oils and eHow's DIY beeswax based antiperspirant bar.

Update: Day One, I was dry and neutral smelling all day. Amazing! Day 2, I experienced a lot of underarm wetness, per the usual, but I still smelled neutral.  Conclusion: This works! (At least it works if you just don't want to smell bad and don't mind sweaty pits.) 

Olivia Lane is a Blogger, Green Living Educator, and Health Coach trained at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She's also author of Baking Soda & Bliss: The Healthy & Happy Guide to Green Cleaning.   

 

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I've got something to say!

I am in love with the life! I am in love with breath, possibility, surprise, yearning, learning, donuts... everything. This love of life makes me want to share everything that I have to offer with the world. Why else am I here? I'd love to share my enthusiasm for green housekeeping and sustainable living with you in new ways. Please "follow" me and stay tuned for flip videos, diary style blog entries, art projects, random tips, and anything else I can think of to keep you entertained while we joyfully save ourselves and the planet.

Olivia Lane is a Blogger, Green Living Educator, and Health Coach trained at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She's also author of Baking Soda & Bliss: The Healthy & Happy Guide to Green Cleaning.   

 

Stay connected: Free Gift // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // YouTube