I’ve been obsessed with eco-friendly, minimal, or what we often call these days: green living. My obsession is not new. I’ve been invested in this topic as long as I can remember.
Back in the mid-1980s I lived in Tehran when Iran was defending itself against the U.S.-supported Iraq attack. The war went on until my late teenage years. During that time, my family received a ration every couple of months to spend on food. If we wanted to buy anything outside the ration distribution, we had to purchase it from the black market. I learned to never waste milk. I drank all my milk until the last drop. We never wasted any ounce of meat or any ounce of food. My mom stored food for the next couple of days. She cooked in smaller portions to minimize waste. I don’t recall my mom ever throwing food away. Really, I just can’t remember.
We lived under U.S.-imposed sanctions. Everything was extraordinarily expensive with Iran’s currency. Therefore, I was trained, thanks to the brutal U.S. sanctions, to live minimally, or according to the modern term, to live green. Not by choice, but by the force of the reality of my life during those days.
My mindset focused on never ever wasting anything. I was trained, within the family discipline, and within the larger cultural context, to never waste. If I did, I would be upset. Even within my family here in the U.S., we don’t buy unless we really need something. I do not have many clothes; I haven’t stuffed my house; our fridge is always half-full; we don’t have “many things” in our house. I try to live as green as I can, for my sake, my daughter’s sake, and for the sake of my family. Here, I live minimally also to benefit animals, the planet, and everything in between.
My mission of re-learning green living
I am on a mission to learn about green living. I want to know what renewable energy is. I want to know how to live green in a culture of consumerism. I want to re-learn what I learned back in Iran during wartime. And if I may, I want to share my experience with you.
In this video, I am trying to explain what I mean by “learning” about green living and trying to “use” it more often.
Green living is peaceful living
Although I’m still trying to figure out what green living is, I believe green living is peaceful living. When we eat less, consume less, spend less, want less, and buy less, we contribute to our peace of mind and the peace of the planet. We are considering animals. We sympathize with those who don’t have as much as we do. We act kinder and more compassionate. Or, at least this is what I think and feel.
For the next few months and years, I am going to find those peaceful bridge makers who advocate for green living. I think green living is peaceful living.
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