When I say that I’m committed to living intentionally, I mean according to a worldview. It is a worldview that takes its meaning from the heart of the Catholic Church. More specifically, it is a Carmelite interpretation of the world and my place in it. I have increasingly been living each day according to a rule and a regimen. But I’ve had setbacks. I haven’t coped well during some difficult times. Its one of the reasons I’m making this effort for the entire year of 2022. I’ll talk a little bit each day about the different aspects of the rule and regimen, as I bump up against them.
Anyhow, I went to Kroger and bought a pre-packaged salad and a banana to eat while I’m at work, and took sixty dollars out in change since it is the 6th and I’m stowing away that ten dollars a day in cigarette and Snapple money to redirect it toward charitable purposes. I broke a commitment when I got the salad, too. All of the plastic waste. Plastic fork in a cellophane wrapper, plastic bowl with a plastic insert holding the toss-ins. Plastic cup of dressing. If I’d planned ahead, I could have made a salad with all of that stuff and put it in a reuseable bowl. Intention. I’ll get it eventually.
Am I an environmental wacko because I’m chastising myself about using disposable plastic? It depends on what you mean by environmental and wacko. Anyone who is willing to live intentionally is probably seen as a wacko by most of the world. And climate change and deforestation aside, I’m against waste in general. I’m against poisoning and polluting the water, air, and soil. Because I think we can do better, and everyone would be better off for it, especially the poor who, worldwide, are the ones who are relegated to living and working in the most poisoned and polluted places.