Rooted in Desire

All phenomena, the Buddha once said, are rooted in desire. Everything we think, say, or do—every experience—comes from desire. Even we come from desire. We were reborn into this life because of our desire to be. Consciously or not, our desires keep redefining our sense of who we are. Desire is how we take our place in the causal matrix of space and time. The only thing not rooted in desire is nirvana, for it's the end of all phenomena and lies even beyond the Buddha's use of the word “all.” But the path that takes you to nirvana is rooted in desire—in skillful desires. The path to liberation pushes the limits of skillful desires to see how far they can go.– Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Failed Resolutions

Well, I failed that resolution and bought beautiful new jeans (on sale!) at Anthropologie, but I did end up looking pretty great at my friend's wedding despite eating sweets every day, so maybe some resolutions aren't that worthwhile. I am toying with becoming a vegetarian. Mostly because eating meat is so bad for the environment. In school, I just learned that 90% of outdoor air pollutants are cause by five major sources: transportation, industry (not sure what that means), electric power generation, space heating (!), and refuse disposal. I try to recylcle everything but really should compost. Why does laziness often make it so easy to do the wrong thing?

(Image from Old Soul New Heart, my new obsession: http://www.oldsoulnewheart.com/product/triple-threat)

Resolutions

I find myself making resolutions all the time. Like not eating sweets for two weeks until my best friend's wedding (I lasted two days) and taking long walks by the water (I do it sometimes, but often I lie on my couch and wash trashy reality TV). But I am thinking about instating this one for myself and seeing how it goes. Last year, I gave up shopping for new clothes for a year. But I didn't really do it all the way. I did it some of the way, but I still bought stuff and I am not really sure that I learned the lesson that everyone else who participated got out of it. So I am thinking, what if I only bought clothes from thrift shops for a year. It would cut down on all the manufacturing costs of clothes, would be recycling in a way, and I would still be able to shop. I think I am going to try it and see how it goes. I like thrift store shopping anyway, but then the Internet goes and throws things like this in my face. I mean, really.

(Dress from http://www.delphinemanivet.com/rub_index/index.html)

People Are Strange

I was walking down the street this morning and there were mountains, literally, of "recycling" out on the curb. The plethora of waste deeply disturbed me. I nabbed some great baby wrapping paper, which I don't really have immediate use for, but figure does not have to be restricted to baby gifts alone. Why would someone throw this away? In this culture where we want things so much and there is such a desire for newness, is this what we have come to? It's just easier to throw unused things away when we move, as long as it is into the recycling. Is that what are our new awakening to the environmental woes of our world has brought us? I desire no more throwing away of perfectly useful objects that are no longer of use or convenience to us. Put in just a smidgeon of effort people.

Scarves

Scarves are so classy and add interest to any outfit, I think:
(Scarf from DearGoldenVintage on Etsy)
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26757164

I Desire Clothes

There will be a lot of clothes on here. I love clothes.

(From Heidi Merrick)

I Desire

I desire so many things. So much of my time is spent desiring things I (maybe) can have and cannot have. I desire success, but what does being successful mean? And why do I want it so badly? There are so many things I want, but am not really sure why. I am going to post some of them here. I am going to see if you desire what I do and maybe we can think a little bit more about what this desire means.