photo credit: Mr. Theklan

Hypothesis: A person is able to make and maintain green, sustainable changes to their lifestyle despite harsh restrictions on time and income.

Objective: To return to the green, healthy and sustainable lifestyle I previously had when income and time were less of a concern.

Step 1: Food.

Objective: Begin eating healthier, homemade foods.

Obstacles:

• Time: I am going to college full time, as well as working full time. I must fit in making homemade meals that are healthy while still maintaining enough time for school/work/study/sleep.
• Money: Despite working full time, it is only a minimum wage job. Living in a city where costs are high, this leaves me with barely enough money to cover bills. After budgeting I have roughly $100 per month to spend on food.

photo credit: Dainis Matisons

I’m not ready to make a big leap back into blogging again, but I thought I’d make a short update to let people know what’s been going on in my life lately.

First off, I’m back in college. I’m working to get a degree in social work and hope to get a job working with people with mental illnesses. Ideally, I’d love to get a degree in sociology, but short of becoming a professor there just isn’t much you can do with that degree. And we all know about the education budget cuts going on lately…

I’m also working full time. It’s a minimum wage gas station job, which barely pays enough to make the rent and buy groceries. OK, so it actually doesn’t get me enough for that either. Luckily, I’m cheap, resourceful, and get my $57 dollars a month in food stamps to stretch out. Ramen noodles, for breakfast lunch and dinner!

I’ve been putting my (little) free time to good use as much as I can. I joined Circle K International, a community service organization. I signed up to volunteer at a local homeless shelter for children and single mothers. And today I joined in the Occupy Austin protest (a local branch of the Occupy Wall Street protests) by making signs for the protesters in the park. I’m lucky to have this Thursday off, which is when we will take over city hall.

I’ve given up quite a few things as well. Some might have noticed that I’m no longer using Twitter. I do occasionally post on Facebook, though it’s mostly just songs and links to news stories. I’m not putting myself out there right now. I’ve also given up any kind of dating or relationships. I feel like I’ve spent my entire life chasing some man, hoping to find one that will love me just to prove that I’m lovable. So many things I could have been doing with my life, so much time wasted chasing some fairy tale dream.

I’m already 30, going to be 31 in a few months. I feel like I’m a race with the clock to get as much out of life as I can now. Now, before it’s too late. I’m dedicating my time to making myself a better person, to finding out who I really am, to live my passions.

Go on alone, because I won’t follow
But this isn’t giving up no this is letting go
Out with the old dreams I’ve borrowed
The path I carve from here on out will be my own
A path to take me home

Go on alone, ’cause I won’t follow.
This isn’t giving up, no this is letting go
Out with the old dreams I’ve borrowed
The path I carve from here on out will be my own
The path will be my own