I’m really excited about the progress I’ve made so far in my project. It was definitely a huge learning experience, and I had to confront a lot of personal issues that would prove to be a hindrance to accomplishing my goals. It’s funny that like my closet, my conscience and emotional self has lightened. I faced something that I had shrugged off for years and justified it for just as long, with our culture, our society, and basically everyone else besides me being at fault. Learning the places were clothing comes from, how it was made, who made it and how it got here has opened my eyes completely. Similar to how most of the time we haven’t the slightest clue as to what we are eating, where it came from, how it was made, who made it and how it got here… It’s when you start caring enough to learn about it, do something about it, and encourage others to do the same that one person can start to make a difference, and change can begin to take place. Though the things that I do as one person may not be visible from outer space, I know that as a collaborative effort, and those going on right now that I would like to be a part of, the change can be palpable, through cleaner air, cleaner water, smaller landfills, and happier people free of corporate tyranny domestic and over seas.

They say that all good things must come to an end, but though the project is done and the class is coming to an end, I know that I’ll continue practicing what I have learned. I know that I will keep on talking about it with friends and family and keep on annoying them when the subject comes up :) . I’ve harped a lot about awareness and education because I’ve gained a lot of awareness myself throughout this entire class. I’ve tried to practice some of the ideas and virtues that I’ve seen many of you tap into and I feel like I can make a difference. For example, eating less meat, refraining from buying bottled water, and over all just being wary of how much of our earth’s resources I consume. I feel that I have fully rejected the idea that buying clothing makes me happy, because in fact there is no kind of happiness that had been brought by looking at my own clutter and waste day to day while thinking about the consequences my irresponsibility could have had. I am determined to continue my self restraint and use my better judgment when it comes to buying clothing, and as well other things that can be considered as wants, as opposed to needs. It’s good for me, and the environment I live IN, not next to or near by. There will be no finger wagging to others this time or anytime, since I’m still learning ( and will continue to learn) more about how what I choose to buy can deeply and adversely affect others that I will probably never see and the places were they live that I will probably never visit. All in all, I do feel like a much smarter and savvier person than I was before I took this class, and I think my closet agrees.

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