Now there's an idea....

Did you catch Oprah yesterday?

I shared the "freegan" concept her guests introduced to the world with Bob when he got home last night. It went something like this:

"Hey honey, did you have a good day? And, um, you know how there is enough waste in the world to feed entire countries and there is so much excess and how sickening it is? How about if we try to do our part for society and start digging through grocery store dumpsters for our dinner every night? It could save us a bundle."

He glared at me, felt my forehead to see if I've come down with some terrible, fevery illness which makes a person delusional.

As I watched the people on Oprah, highly successful, educated people, people perfectly able to purchase their own groceries, going dumpster hopping for free food I got chills. The good kind of chills.

In my 20's I was on the stuff wagon. Truly enjoyed purchasing items. As we've gotten older, those items became even more big ticket, like home remodel items. Rubbing my hands together and making a list I would think, what oh what will we get/buy/do next? It's admirable to get detailed a make list, right?

In my 30's this way of thinking has died. Something happened where I woke up, and I am so thankful. In the process, I kept shaking my husband too and he woke up right along with me. Like out of a bad dream with a night sweat, we woke up. Glory Hallelujah I can see the light. The desire to buy is leaving me more and more each year, maybe each week. Someone came over recently, and noticed our corian counter tops and asked if I liked them? Oh, these old (actually newish) things? I don't care...corian schmorian...granite shmanite...who cares? They're fine I suppose. They work for cooking, and that is the point of counter tops, right? Clothes shopping? I probably should do more. I would look better. Toys and gadgets for the kids? No way. Didn't we just get rid of 90% of their junk last year because it was just EVERYWHERE, only to realize they didn't give a flip about it anyway? Freeing, I tell you. Getting off the treadmill of working more to buy more or vacation more or do more and thinking that will satisfy is FREEING. Not that we're perfect at it, at all. But getting better all the time and I thank God from the depth of my soul for some freedom from the desire to keep up, to consume, to buy, to have more than I need. It's life transforming in a serious way.

I love to see the drastic steps some people are taking to make a statement. It's inspiring. GO FREEGANS GO! You rock.

Will trash hopping be the next step? I doubt it. I think my husband will draw the line. But, I will try to only buy what we really need and focus on what actually does satisfy. I will work to teach my children that they don't need every new gadget or the newest shoes or hottest clothes, and the importance of giving to those who truly need. I will shop second-hand this summer for bicycles and puzzles. And, I will do my very best to utilize the food we do purchase and now allow any of it to go into our trashcan. So, freegans, don't come our way....sorry we've got nothin' for ya.