Small sustainability practices
It is so fascinating to observe how feelings, emotions and practices constellate into a unique pattern in a new situation. This pattern is so different to how I imagined it. These days, my partner and I talk so much about family planning. It has become an important part of our life. I notice that I've been focusing inwards, on my home, my inner world, and our academic works.
We have been walking here in Copenhagen, connecting with the city, our city. In a garden nearby we discovered some watercress (in the picture above). We spent so many minutes by this pond, which is also home to many crayfish.
I've been collecting glass jars (they came with food) to use them as decorations for the party that my partner and I will be organising for his child. We want to avoid conventional decorations. Instead, we will put various, mis-matching flowers in the jars and place them around our small home. I've been looking forward to this party to honour this small fellow human being. When I was growing up, we often had wild flowers in vases in our home.
I've been giving my own copies of my book away to fellow humans. In the picture below is my book packaged in a much used cotton bag. I intend to give it to my partner's father (and his wife) whom I mention on several occasions in the book. To wrap gifts, I usually use fabric or cotton bags. At times, fellow humans return this packaging, so I can use it again. At other times, they keep it. I hope that they will use it in their own home or as packaging for gifts. The bag in the picture below was bought from a small Danish company and is made from organic cotton.
My partner was recently joking about nesting. He wonders if I will transcend extreme minimalism when we have a child. I don't plant to relate with objects differently to how I relate with them now. I live with very few items. Less than 50 personal possessions. 10 items of clothing. Naturally, having a baby will also mean inviting more objects into our life (even if the number is small, and the objects are second-hand). I plan to invite as few objects into our life as possible. And as much love as possible.