I remember being in Japan in the late 90s. Around Christmas time, I’d go out late, late at night and find so many almost new items - toasters, microwaves, beds, blankets, cutlery - you name it - THROWN AWAY.
Today, I live in Nicaragua and it’s a “it lasts forever” culture. They fix everything. Used stuff maintains its value here. People buy used. And if it breaks, they fix it.
I visit the local paca for my clothes and electronics. 100s of these second-hand stores and for a smidgen of the price back home, you can get what you need.
If my pants rip or like last week my backpack strap broke - I take it to one of a many seamstresses. 50 cents to sew it back up, stronger than the original.
I remember growing up, I thought my dad was a kook. He never threw away anything. I suffered weekends filled with banging out nails from old boards, straightening them and putting them in their correct tobacco tin - my dad had all set up and arranged.
I remember my dear mother. Her drawer full of milk bags, stuffed full it was. And her little cigarette butts in a dish at the back of the house. She used them right to the last.
At home, here in Nica, you just fix things, repair things. My hammock broke yesterday. Strings snapped. I’ve used it a lot for the last 2 years. This morning, I got some string and strung it up again. Still holding, It’ll keep going and going.
People come a lot to my door asking for shoes, clothes. I give what I can, I don’t keep much in my wardrobe. They are always thankful and I see them wearing MY CLOTHES in the neighborhood.
I have a shirt that I wear weekly, it’s 22 years old. Simple, black Lululemon sleeveless thing. But I’ll never throw it away, not until it itself expires. Treat things like you would people.
Today I’m heading off to the shoemaker, zapatero - going to resole my 2 year old Hokas. Why not? They fit like a glove, still feels like I’m walking on air. For a few dollars, they’ll have a totally new set of rubber treads on the bottom.
So I ask - what are you reusing? Stop throwing away shit and think about this world.
We are going to hell in a plastic bag and we have to stop. Forget the Paris Accords or carbon credits. Forget $75,000 electric cars. JUST USE LESS. REUSE EVERYTHING UNTIL ITS LAST MOMENT. That is what living in love is - using everything with love, a love that lasts. Love endures, it throws away naught.
It’s the only way we’ll make a future for this world. Consuming MUCH less.
Waste not. Want not. Love more.
Let’s all be inspired by my Nica BBQ. Nothing Walmart, throw away, planned obsolescent about it. It will last forever. Praise. Amen. To that which lasts.