Saturday, July 12, 2008

The Little Things

A member from one of the forums on the Atheist Nexus social network asked a question about being happier as an atheist vs. when we were religious. In my answer I had made a point about how I don't spend as much money now because I don't need as much to feel fulfilled.

My answer got me to thinking about that economic change of habits, and pick it apart. I still purchase things, but I have been more selective of what I spend my money on.

For instance, the other day my son wanted to go to a local chain Sub shop for dinner. We did go, but then I passed a little shop right around the corner which was newly placed in an older building. A family owned and operated Italian restaurant opened up about a month or two ago.

Now, I usually cook for my whole family, and at least a couple of times a week, we are all 8 here. Family dinners are important to us, as it is a time to sit and talk, and laugh, and discuss, re-tell old stories and pick on each other. However, I'm not a machine. Cooking is fun for me, but not every night.

So everyone is here tonight and we are getting pizzas and subs from the new spot. So what, right? Well, of course I have a point.

You often hear a spokesperson say something like 'Every vote counts' or 'All it takes is one person to change the world', 'Only you can prevent forest fires'. As a human concerned about my earth, what can I do to be that one person change?

Support local businesses, and stop throwing your money at the chains. Subway and Domino's which did get my money at least twice a month just isn't going to get it anymore. But it can't stop there.

I have been starting to research which essentials that I need for my house and family are manufactured by regional companies. Furthermore I want to know how they ship their products, do they manufacture in Virginia, send to a distribution center in Minnesota, and ship it back to Virginia to sell in my local downtown market, or ship direct?

Why go through the trouble?

You see, to me, being an atheist doesn't only entail my disbelief in supernatural explanation. It also means that I know, as a human, I must do my duty to my species to help it prosper and protect the environment which sustains us.

Sometimes it's not just a pizza, it's a statement.

I'm going to go join my crazy family and have some fun, don't let your Saturday pass you by without recognizing its passing, and for Noodles sake, don't throw your money at the monster.
Goodnight!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

being an atheist doesn't only entail my disbelief in supernatural explanation. It also means that I know, as a human, I must do my duty to my species to help it prosper and protect the environment which sustains us.

That has nothing to do with being an atheist and all to do with being a humanist. A theist could very well feel the same way.

Also, what sometimes seems like a family run business can very well be run by one of the same chains your dislike or by a similar chain for "family businesses".

PS: One-time awareness link for blogspot users

Unknown said...

Whoa!

How's it goin' db0? Fancy meeting you here.

I guess that would be the humanist side of an atheist position...

I feel exactly the same way Darla. It's why I'm vegan as well and I often get: "Oh! Are you Seventh-Day Adventist?"

LOL

I'm recently, bit by bit, edging toward low impact lifestyle (riding my back to work started it and I'm contemplating riding the city bus in the winter).

"You often hear a spokesperson say something like 'Every vote counts' or 'All it takes is one person to change the world', 'Only you can prevent forest fires'. As a human concerned about my earth, what can I do to be that one person change?"

The same can apply to atheism...or secular humanism. It's a freethinking philosophy/mind-set and the more people who can think for themselves that are on this earth the better.

Thanks for sharing!

PS: Welcome to the Atheist Blogroll!

DC said...

Thanks for reading and commenting guys. db0, I guess I don't really split hairs when it comes to all the tags that go along with this position, humanist, freethinker, secularist, atheist. Since I am all, they are synonomous.

I was not as thoughtful about my environment and my place in it at all before my enlightenment.

The old feller in the store is definitely not affiliated with a chain :) and may I say it was the best New York Style pizza I've had since 1985 when I left New Jersey. We were so deliriously happy we almost went on another run, but we were all to lazy to get up. Cheese coma.

Anyway we have been 'trimming the fat' as they say.

How does vegan = 7th day adv. LOL talk about a leap.
Come back anytime.

Anonymous said...

db0, I guess I don't really split hairs when it comes to all the tags that go along with this position, humanist, freethinker, secularist, atheist. Since I am all, they are synonomous.

Thats fine as long as you don't expect all atheists to be like that.

DC said...

No, I don't expect it at all. That's the wonderful thing about atheists, we are so diverse in thought and deed.

I was always easy going and borderline hippie growing up and I was never a fan of labels compartmentalizing for myself.

I appreciate that others do and are good at it, because I suck at it ; )

Distinctions are a good thing.

S said...

I've done something similar with a lot of my household products. I try to buy all of my cleaning and hygiene stuff from a more earth friendly company. It's a small difference but it's one that I can make right? :)

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