Only a few stories that we read impact us so much that we just cannot stop thinking about them and Andy Andrew’s, The Butterfly Effect, is one of those stories. Enjoy this 3 minute movie (below) and be inspired to live a life of permanent purpose that will make you a better parent, a better spouse, employee and a more valuable friend.

.. and here’s wishing you a terrific Independence Day Holiday weekend!

Care2 is a great source for fun, festive e-cards. Their selection of quality electronic cards is what I look for when wanting to send a greeting online. Not only are you saving natural resources through sending electronically, but now, you can earn “butterfly credits” when you send e-cards through Care2. Those credits can be redeemed for meaningful gifts like safe drinking water, carbon offsets, or help for shelter pets through amazing organizations. You earn the credits and you choose the gifts. Now it’s easier than ever to make a difference at Care2. Next time you need a greeting, check out Care2. http://www.care2.com/ecards/

Birdhouse In Your Soul from john carey on Vimeo.

This creation is titled “Birdhouse In Your Soul” and put together by John, of fiftyfootshadows.net. I have shared John’s work here before because I enjoy it. He has some wonderful photography he shares as desktop wallpaper for personal use. You’ll find his most recent, titled “Caged”.. peaceful, artistic photos you’ll recognize from this video. I hope you enjoy too.

This post will strike a nerve with some readers, as many minimalists or aspiring minimalists are die-hard carnivores. They love their meat and don’t want to hear anything against it.

Well, hear me out, please. If you could read to the end of the post before disagreeing, blasting me, or dismissing me, I’d be grateful.

In this post I’ll tell you (briefly) why I chose veganism and how it is the diet I believe is most in line with minimalism.

Minimal eating
Veganism, simply defined, is abstaining from animal products, from meat and fish and poultry to dairy and eggs and other such products. I also try for whole foods that are minimally processed, which means I mostly eat veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, some whole grains.

This is a limited, minimal diet, and yet it can be incredibly satisfying and maximally flavorful. It’s also very healthy, very light, and low on the budget (if you compare it to eating whole foods carnivorously).

A small amount of ingredients. Light on the palate and stomach. Easy to prepare, with a minimum of fuss.

The most sustainable diet
I won’t go into the figures here (they’re covered better elsewhere), but raising animals for meat, eggs and dairy is incredibly wasteful. For every pound of meat or dairy, many times that amount of plants must be used to feed the animals for those products.

Animals also produce a huge amount of pollution and contribute immensely to greenhouse gases, not to mention the machinery and fuel that’s used to raise, slaughter and transport them … and all the plants needed to feed them.

Eating only plants cuts that waste to a minimal amount, and is so much better for the environment. Minimalists who care about living lightly and sustainably would do well to research this and consider it.

Minimal cruelty
One of the main reasons for becoming a vegan is that we don’t believe animals should be held captive, suffer, and be slaughtered for our pleasure.

There is absolutely no need for humans to consume animal products to live a healthy life. Sure, we’ve eaten them for millions of years, but as millions and millions of people have proven, you can eat a vegan diet and be healthy.

And so, the only reason to eat animal products is pleasure — you like the taste and “can’t give it up”. Vegans don’t believe animals should suffer for our pleasure, and becoming vegan means you’re opting out of a society that treats animals with extreme cruelty and pretends it doesn’t happen.

Living lightly, not always conveniently
If your definition of minimalism involves always choosing the most convenient, easiest options, then veganism might not be the most minimal choice. It can sometimes be inconvenient, when eating at restaurants that aren’t vegan-friendly or at the homes of non-vegan friends or family.

That’s a reality, but in truth, it’s not that hard. I mostly cook my own food, with a minimum of preparation, and so most days I have no problems whatsoever.

More and more restaurants are becoming vegan-friendly, and the ones that aren’t can usually whip up a quick and simple vegetable dish on request. I usually avoid McDonald’s and most fast food anyway. When I go to someone else’s house, I usually bring a dish with me, and friends and family who know me best often will cook a dish for me out of consideration.

So it’s not that hard. My suggestion, if you’re interested, is starting small: try a couple vegan dishes this week, a couple next week, and so on. There’s no need to drastically change overnight, but in time you’ll find that vegan dishes are delicious and the vegan lifestyle is wonderfully minimalist.

Thanks for listening, my friends.

Waiting from john carey on Vimeo.

Consumers started giving feedback about the types of cleaners they wanted and companies started listening. Now there are many green cleaners available. Just check the store shelves and you’ll find many new products that are much better for your environment.

The fact is, it’s not always easy to choose new cleaners when you’ve been using the same ones for years and years. Start by looking at the label of ingredients. If the product is green, it will shout green from the rooftops. They’ll proudly list their ingredients and some will even tell you what each ingredient does. Go with plant-based over petroleum-based as it’s usually better for you. If you’re not sure about an ingredient and if it sounds sinister to you then go online and get the facts.

Another thing that can help you is to look for 3rd party seals like the one by the EPA because they are done independently and show the product has passed measurable criteria regarding the environment. When a product has an independent seal of approval, it carries more weight than the company’s own self-promoting.

Since you’ve made the commitment to go greener, consider your cleaning instruments as well. Paper towels should be chlorine-free and made from recycled paper. Better yet, use soft, absorbent cloth diapers as they do an excellent job cleaning, weren’t made from trees, and last a long time. New on the market are microfiber kitchen cloths. They are multi-purpose and are great for spills as they are super absorbent. In the spirit of reduce, reuse, and recycle, use old t-shirts when painting or for garage tasks.

Way back in the day, cleaners consisted of regular household items like baking soda, vinegar, and elbow grease. These “old-fashioned” remedies work just as well today as they did back then. These products are another non-toxic option for cleaning that you might consider revisiting. Here’s a short list:

Baking Soda
clean surfaces
remove odors
clean silver
remove scuff marks
remove grease
clean hairbrushes and combs
remove burnt food from the grill
remove mildew
clean outdoor furniture

Vinegar
clean windows
clean silver, pewter, brass or copper
clean spills
clean no-wax floors
clean wood paneling
spray shower stalls to prevent mildew
keep ants away
remove odors
remove soap residue

Some commercial green cleaners are more expensive and some are not, but expense may certainly weigh in, along with health and environment issues, when considering your choice of cleaner. If you can, choose the products that are better for you and the environment AND that do the job.

Instead, learn to focus on the positive. Think about how great you feel. Think about how other people have done this, and how you can too. Think about how good it will feel when you accomplish what you’re trying to do.

Learn to see the positive in just about any situation. This results in happiness, in my experience, as you don’t focus on the bad parts of your life, but on the good things. Be thankful for what you’ve been given.