Greetings from Alison Wiley here in Portland, Oregon. I'm a writer/doer/thinker who lives happily by putting people, nature and God ahead of accumulating more stuff. Read more →
This is an updated version of my popular 2009 post. When I Googled the title of this post just now, my 2009 edition came up seventh. It was right before Dr. Oz’s piece in People magazine. I’m going to fantasize that this means Diamond-Cut Life is winning its soft-spoken war against mindless mainstream culture I’m [...]
I know. You think I’ve degenerated into being a slacker. No, a frigging slacker. You picture me lounging around in coffee shops in torn clothing, pink-streaked hair and freshly inked tatoos. You see me reading subversive literature and debating land use in heated, holier-than-thou tones (you possibly watch Portlandia). Well, I can own there’s been [...]
Tags: Erick Mertz·love·New Years resolutions·Portlandia·Revelle·slacker·writing
Two years ago, on January 1st, 2009, my friend Colleen Kaleda and I spontaneously made a shared New Year’s resolution to tutor and befriend two African immigrant women (one apiece). We were clear we wanted to be of more service in our lives, and that we had enough time to do that. We shook hands [...]
Tags: African immigrants·David Chilstrom·New Years resolutions·saying grace·service
I’m not just a fan of New Year’s resolutions, I’m a cheerleader for them, and for positive change in our lives in general. As a former counselor who’s worked with a full spectrum of folks — from underachieving college students and the worried well to late-stage alcoholics and drug addicts – I have a realistic [...]
Tags: addictions·decluttering·exercise·habits·New Years resolutions
I’m back after a break spent with family, helping my mother-in-law Joan pass away peacefully at Providence Hospital here in Portland. Joan was a passionate soul who believed in making the world a better place. For that reason and because she cultivated thrift during the Great Depression like most of her generation, I think she [...]
Tags: Amtrak·carbon footprint·carbon offsets·consumption·culture·global warming·green living·life·New Years resolutions·Oregon·sacrifice·thrift
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