Declare your independence

Act against your own convenience

Americans are suffering from having too much and having it too easy physically. That's why we're fat and getting fatter, because it's so easy when things are cheap. We've given in to plenty. Does it remind you of royalty? Those crowned heads of old could eat as much and as often as they wished and they had others to do everything for them. They lived in big houses but were always building more. They had huge estates but wanted to enlarge them. They had elegant coaches in which to travel and servants to do their bidding, just as we have cars in which to travel and technology to do our bidding. As for community, one famous member of royalty was known to say "the state, it is me."

So, leave the company of royalty. By escaping the captivation with having more things, we can free ourselves to have more time for ourselves. But, that doesn't mean it should all be time to do nothing. We should act to reduce convenience and to make things harder for ourselves in ways that benefit the community. In this way, everyone wins: the individual gets into shape and so does the community.

Here's the idea. Start going for walks and take a bag. Notice litter and make it a practice as you walk to go out of your way to pick it up. Make it a point to recycle as much as you can, even if it causes you to go out of your way to find a place to recycle. Others will think you're nuts, but it makes more sense than paying to lift weighs, doesn't it? The more uneconomic and the harder the activity, the better. Try to find things to do that demand labor but that nobody is interested in doing, litter pickup being a good example.

Other things to do: break down cardboard boxes and recycle them. Cut grass in the neighborhood that is left to grow wild, and do it with a manual mower. Don't hire a lawn service for your own property, do it yourself. Ride a bike and walk instead of driving. When you go to the mall, find an empty cart in the parking lot and return it to the store where you are going, which will often clear a parking space for someone else.

In short, think for yourself in ways that benefit others as well.

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