Tag Archives: sustainable

Rightsizing vs. Downsizing—Making A Positive Lifestyle Choice

Rightsizing 300x148 Rightsizing vs. Downsizing—Making A Positive Lifestyle Choice

Can you guess which one gets 12 MPG and which gets 40+ MPG? It’s all about rightsizing!

Last month Thom came across an article in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) with a headline that said,  “Everybody Says You Should Downsize. Everybody May Be Wrong.”   We both found that statement to be so incredulous that we had to reread it.  And we weren’t alone in our surprise.  Most of the other comments online also questioned many of the negative points offered in the article.  Clearly the author herself had not downsized and it was also obvious that her focus came from an outdated definition.  Naturally that got me thinking that maybe most of us approach the topic from the wrong direction to begin with.  Instead of thinking of it as “down” sizing—maybe we should consider it to be “right”-sizing.   And once we get the label right—it is much easier to consider the real benefits that come from living a lifestyle that is right-sized from the beginning. Continue reading

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Christmas 2012…More STUFF? Or A Meaningful Experience?

santa1 300x225 Christmas 2012…More STUFF?  Or A Meaningful Experience?Before we get too close to Christmas I thought it might be SMART to remind myself (and anyone else who is paying attention) to not get sucked into the holiday frenzy.   You know what I mean.  Ever since the beginning of September the retail outlets here in the U.S. have been pushing Santa and all things related.  Just like any drug, the pushers make everything seem so harmless, tantalizing and attractive. However, the truth is what makes the season special has very little to do with stuff, and everything to do with experience.  That’s why remembering why we do what we do and using our money, time and resources in the service of that which we say we support, is especially critical this time of year. Continue reading

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The SMART Living Path to Midway Simplicity

Thom @ Esalen 300x225 The SMART Living Path to Midway Simplicity

Moderation and Simplicity are great Paths to SMART Living

This week I had the pleasure of appearing on the Midway Simplicity weekly YouTube show.  Each week the website’s author, Mohamed Tohami, interviews someone from the Internet about his or her version of minimalism or simplicity.  This week was my turn.  During the last few months I’ve written a number of articles about minimalism and the simple living approach from a SMART perspective, and those articles have attracted more attention than any others here on the website.   Appearing on the Midway Simplicity show provided me with a great opportunity to get clear about where SMART Living and Simplicity converge.  It also helped me think of a number of specific tips I can offer for those seeking a more SMART and simple lifestyle of their own. Continue reading

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Are You Really A Minimalist?—And Five Questions To Find Out

TG Layout 8 10 12 SMART 174x300 Are You Really A Minimalist?—And Five Questions To Find OutDo you consider yourself a minimalist?  Do you even know what minimalism means?  Lately I’ve been excited by a number of blogs and websites devoted to the topic.  That interest signals a reverse in the over-consumptive tendencies and consumer lifestyle so prevalent during the last couple of decades here in the U.S.  But often when I read the posts and comments on such sites, it seems that those who are involved have differing views of what minimalism is and why it can be beneficial.  Perhaps before we start calling ourselves a minimalist we should describe what we mean in the first place.    Continue reading

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Imagining An Olympics For the Mind & Heart

KG Heart Olympic 300x221 Imagining An Olympics For the Mind & HeartAnyone who knows me very well knows I’m not really into sports.  Even though I have attended a number of sporting events in person—NFL Football, Lakers Basketball, Angel’s Baseball, Rocky Hockey, world-class tennis, golf and a few others—it was always about the experience.   I guess I figure that if I am going to watch others play sports, then I want to be present and not just passively  watching on TV.  Maybe that’s why even though I can appreciate some of the 2012 World Olympics—it only partially captures my interest.  It also makes me ask, why do we continue to put so much emphasis on what is physically possible, but very little attention on intelligence and creativity?  Why don’t we hold a “Creative” Olympics every four years?  Or what about holding a worldwide Olympics of Compassion?  One can only guess what an Olympics for the Mind might foster for the people of the world. Continue reading

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A Simple Cure for Those Suffering From Cash-Burn

Happy SMART Day Everyone!

Cash burning 300x298 A Simple Cure for Those Suffering From Cash BurnMost of us are familiar with the pain of heartburn.  And if you check you’ll find that news sources say close to 40% of all Americans suffer from it at least once a month.  But what about cash-burn?  Chances are the same numbers of Americans suffer from this common affliction as well.   But what is cash-burn and how does it happen?  Even more important—what’s the cure? Continue reading

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Need A Raise? Cut Your Overhead!

Happy SMART Day Everyone!

Gottberg 300x228 Need A Raise?  Cut Your Overhead!

Our new "shared" yard saves us about $7,000 a year!

When was your last raise?  Everyone I know would love to have one, but they don’t usually come all that often.  Still, if we consider that a raise is just a new inflow of money—we all have one readily available.    That new inflow or “raise” in income is always within your grasp by simply cutting your overhead or monthly expenses.   And even if the idea of cutting back sounds like a sacrifice, you may just discover that reducing overhead—especially when unnecessary or unused—can actually be a pleasure.  And your pocketbook will thank you as well. Continue reading

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Riding A Bike Turns A Chore Into An Adventure!


88 bikes 150x150 Riding A Bike Turns A Chore Into An Adventure!Do you remember your first bike?  That question was a big part of the presentation made by Dan Austin, author and founder of “88 Bikes” at the Palm Springs 4th Annual Sustainability Celebration.  The event, which featured an exhibit area of local green and sustainable businesses, groups and organizations focused on promoting another year of growing and learning about ways to improve our desert community.  An exciting new piece of that puzzle would be an all valley bikeway from Palm Springs to the Salton Sea–a stretch of nearly 50 miles.

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Monday 10/10/11—KIVA.org Is A SMART Way To Help Others & Ourselves

Happy SMART Day Everyone!

887564 1 150x150 Monday 10/10/11—KIVA.org Is A SMART Way To Help Others & Ourselves        Did you know that one of the best ways to help yourself is to help others?  Dozens of studies demonstrate that people who volunteer and aid others are themselves on the receiving end of both obvious and hidden benefits.  That’s why this week we think it’s SMART to suggest one of our favorite “giving” websites—that website is Kiva.org.   Do yourself a favor this week and help someone else.  Kiva makes it easy. Continue reading

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Dear Costco—It’s Not SMART to Celebrate Christmas in September!

Happy SMART Day Everyone!

Cosctco Xmas 150x150 Dear Costco—It’s Not SMART to Celebrate Christmas in September!How many of you have noticed that Costco and a couple of other big-box retailers have already set up their Christmas decorations—and September isn’t even over?   That’s right, sometime during the month of September Costco began moving out the summer displays and setting up Christmas trees, neon-flashing Santa’s and boxes of wrapping paper, all designed to get you in the buying mood early this year.  And while I’m normally a fan of Costco, I consider their Christmas push to be obscene.  As a member of the “club,” this push is a great reminder that Costco’s, (and similar other retail store’s) primary agenda is not to serve customers—but instead to generate income.  And that is something very SMART for each of us to remember. Continue reading

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