Now is the perfect time to embrace the “renew, reuse and recycle” movement in order to conserve.  There really is no way around it.  We have no choice but to hold back, budget, "do without", curb our appetites and hunker down for the sake of the financial crisis we all are facing.  Despite the very scary reality, we can find a bright side if we look deep enough: we have the opportunity to help those less fortunate by clearing out all of that "stuff" that’s really awesome but that we no longer need and hand it right over to those who are really feeling the panic of the punch.  Now, more than ever, will your second hand gems be appreciated by new proprietors. You may even be enticed to push it even further to see where else you might conserve.  Can you carpool more frequently? Become more innovative with leftovers instead of tossing them? Compost your veggies? Clothes shop out of necessity not boredom? Donate your time to a soup kitchen or shelter?

We can also conserve our own hard earned cash by cooking in more.  I bet most of us could benefit from eating in a bit more often.  Watch FoodTV for some ideas if you’re being held back by a lack of innovation. What will blow you away is the amount of money you will save by adjusting your lifestyle here and there, with minimal effort. You may not go back once you see how nutritious, economical and good for you a home cooked meal can be!

It really boils down simply… going through tough times will lead to one of two things: pull a family together or tear them apart.  What distinguishes one from the other is gratitude.  Gratitude for what one has, what one has to offer and what one does with it. What better time to step up and answer both the call of the environmental movement to conserve and the call for dignity, grace and generosity from a nation facing job insecurity, weak investment institutions and uncertain times?
 
Let’s choose to pull together and be proud to be American!