January Reflections

Did you make any new year’s resolutions this year?

I’ve been writing for BIODEGENERATE Blog for almost a month now, and it occurred to me that I should take some time to reflect on my past month. I wanted to consider aspects like my spending habits and the developmental changes in my thought processes — i.e. how my blogging material has shaped my intentions this month.

I like to generally take things at my own pace and accept new information as it comes to me and then build new interactions based on the new information. Kind of just progressing in a meandering way, in a general direction. There are still challenges and spontaneity in my life, absolutely, such as this creative blog. My future becomes just a little bit clearer when I make decisions to go off in new routes. I mean, a year ago, I was in a completely different place, flailing. There was a lot of newness then and the transition was tough for me. I recognized that the field I graduated into didn’t have a place for me without all X certifications and “2+ years” of nonexistent experience… in that field… and I needed to move on. I was running out of money and I found myself in freelance roles, working with barely any experience, learning via YouTube tutorials and otherwise on the fly.

Things were new and exciting, yet also devastating and frustrating when lockdown began as a result of Coronavirus. Navigating personal emotional stress, quitting vaping (don’t laugh lmao), moving twice in one year, my grandmother’s stroke. There was a lot going on. And all of these events contribute to my meandering progression as a person, which is something I’m learning to appreciate.

In an earlier blog, Purchasing Power, I began by mentioning a Facebook post I had made in summer of last year. I had made a plan to subject myself to buying only second hand (for nonessentials) throughout the rest of that year (2020… feels so far away now). I also mentioned that it didn’t work out super well. I can’t recall everything that I bought from August to December 31st, but I do know that I bought clothes here and there (usually from Depop, occasionally from Urban Outfitters, (my cheat day store)), used Facebook Marketplace where I could, and when the holidays rolled around I bought gifts for family members. That last part is a whole different story for another time — I definitely want to get to that — but even traditional societal pressure doesn’t change the fact that I didn’t come through on my Facebook post challenge. And that sucks.

Earlier in January, I compiled a couple resolutions for myself to actually stick to, and this time it’s going to be even harder for me to ignore. Then I realized I never really communicated my resolutions from the beginning of the year, but it’s kind of still January, even if it’s the 29th, so now is as good as any time to discuss them.

Some of my January Resolutions

• Keep a spreadsheet of all the frivolous items I buy (whether thrift or purchase from what store) so I can look back at what my spending habits are.

So I did that. In this spreadsheet, I included only “frivolous” items I bought, like games, clothes, items that aren’t a necessity. Any kind of groceries, household items, and alcohol don’t count. Because that wouldn’t be fair. This isn’t really a hard regulatory resolution, more of a precursor to one, once I’m able be made aware what my shopping habits are and how to reduce them. I can use this list also to do research on the “sustainability” factor of their brand, if any.

• Promote second hand selling businesses.

I just posted a review of Depop earlier this week, if anyone is considering starting an account. I definitely want to talk more about my experiences with Depop and selling and buying, primarily because I want to normalize buying second hand, but also to promote the bigger idea of sustainable fashion and its community.

• Get my housemates to learn more about sustainability topics like waste prevention and resource conservation. Redirect them from buying unnecessary and wasteful products.

I’m going to make them regret befriending me.

• I would like to reduce my meat intake to primarily only lower impact proteins like chicken, turkey, and tofu.

I eat a lot of sausages, it’s in my DNA, and occasionally a hamburger. I’m pretty comfortable with my level of meat intake, although it could be lower. It’s really easy to eat salami at lunch, or add chicken to whatever dinner I’m eating. I only started eating tofu in 2020, (which is kind of really weird, I know). This is really important and related to purchasing power. Consider looking up how much water it takes to produce ONE hamburger. And then check out how much meat is wasted per year. It’ll be a trip.

• Try to never buy plastic bottles of any kind. Plastic is avoidable in a lot of cases, (maybe make a journal of plastic wrapped items kind of have to buy).

Certain typical plastic items are totally avoidable. I would rather spend 5–8 minutes the night before a school or work day making a sandwich rather than buying a premade one suffocating in plastic. I have ranted about cups in the past, but this water bottle situation is out of control. If I see someone with a plastic water bottle or someone bragging about having a collection of half full water bottles in their bedroom, I immediately assume they’re a mouth breather. School events, work events, or community volunteer events now provide free (branded) reusable water bottles. There’s honestly too many in circulation now, lmao, someone kinda missed the point.

The reality is that these items are made available to us because we often do need to refuel. In my personal case, it’s hard to justify getting snacks from a cafe or store if I brought my own. But if I’m craving hot cheetos, I’m probably going to go downstairs and walk to the corner store to get a bag. And that’s okay. Is it? Am I contributing to the problem? Do any stores sell hot cheetos in bulk?

These points are not just to help me sleep at night. (Is what I tell myself. Just kidding.) It’s hard to equate our existence in some kind of metaphor, but we’re using and abusing, pumping and dumping, hitting it and quitting it here. We should be added to some kind of intergalactic sexual predator species list. Like the dolphins. And we can’t keep getting away with it.

I’m just a single person, and I’ve learned that you can’t change other people. I can only change me and that’s what this is about. I hope others will follow suit.