Sunday, January 15, 2012

For this packrat, recycling eases the pain of letting go

The New Year is two weeks old already!  I’m wondering how everyone’s resolutions are coming along…have you thrown in the towel yet, or is your motivation growing by the hour as you successfully complete baby steps toward your goals? 

My motivation for certain tasks has admittedly waned, but I’m trying to reload before I tackle another pile of clutter. 

I am rather proud of myself for hauling two tall stacks of magazines to the recycling center, as well as several bags of plastic margarine and yogurt bowls that I’ve been saving because “they might come in handy some day.”

Living out in the boonies as I do, we don’t have home pick-up of recyclables.  Although it’s a couple of miles out of my way to recycle, I find I’m doing it more and more.  Why? Because it isn’t as painful to my psyche when I know things will be reused instead of simply trashed.

It bothers me to do so for several reasons.  I feel guilty for adding more plastic to the landfill.  Or I might need that plastic carton for leftovers.  Someone else might need that carton for leftovers.

But when all that stuff piles up in my cabinets and falls out in the floor every time I open a door, it becomes clear that something must be done.

I bought a laundry sorter of a thing at a yard sale a few months ago that I put beside the trashcan to hold bottles, cans, newspaper, etc.  Every week or two, I load ‘em all up and take ‘em to the recycling center.

 This packrat has found she can handle that.  


2 comments:

  1. Dear packrat - YAY, YAY, YAY! If there is a good way to give, then it's okay to give. What a cool new reframe you've found. Congrats!
    ~ RDK
    http://www.reddirtchronicles.com/

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  2. I feel the same way. I take my recyclabe products 25 miles once a week to a wonderful place that takes them. I pay garbage pick up every month at my home which is mandatory, but do not use it. I reclcle 90 % of my garbage and the paper goes in our wood stove,but it gives me a good feeling each time I deliver my recyclables,to know I am doing my part in making this world a better place.

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