All-Consuming Passion:
A Solution
"The single most important contribution any of us can make to the planet is a return to frugality."
-Robert Muller, Retired AssistantSecretary-General of the United Nations
Unlimited consumption, once the hallmark of the American Dream, is becoming a nightmare -- for us, for others and for the earth. It is eroding our environmental, social and personal well-being. We are rich in things, but poor in happiness.
Our overconsumption has also weakened our economy. Leading economic observers like Lester Thurow of M.I.T., Charles Schultze of the Brookings Institute and Alfred E. Kahn of Cornell University all assert that our economic health depends on consuming less and saving more. Kahn asks, "Can we find the political will to slow down our consumption spending collectively?"
Saving money links directly to saving forests, other species, mineral resources, water and ultimately the earth. For ourselves, and for all life, we must "return to frugality."
The good news is that there is a growing frugality revolution. Tired of debt, stress and clutter, people now want to make more time for family, friends, fun and community service. Consuming less is becoming a path to freedom rather than deprivation.
Your Money or Your Life (Viking/Penguin, 1992) is a best-selling book by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. It has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals shift to "low-consumption, high-fulfillment" lifestyles. By following the nine steps outlined in the book, these people have discovered ways to spend less, eliminate debt, develop savings and reclaim their time. It is a proven path out of excess and back to balance.
All who return to frugality add momentum to the revitalization of our society. We are birthing a new dream: a sustainable future for generations to come.
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