Five years ago my then spouse and I were living the American Dream. Successful dual-income family, living in a brand new house, two cars in the driveway, toys in the garage, closet spilling over with clothes, eating out, weekends at the cabin, coming and going as we pleased without a care in the world. Spending money without batting an eye.

Fast forward one year... despite my working three jobs, fourteen plus hours a day, and his income we were bankrupt. No house, no marriage, no life, but a whole hell of a lot of debt. Some dream!

Two more years past. Remarried, dual-income family, I cut back to one job - eight hours a day, two kids in the mix, living in a mobile home park, two used cars in the driveway, two toys - don't own a garage, closet full of clothes, freezer full of convenience foods provided by the Schwan's man, having fun and loving life.

Fast forward one year... Still married, single income family, now a stay at home mom volunteering to fulfill my work addiction, bought a refurbished 100 year old house, two smaller, nicer but not new cars in the driveway, bicycles in the garage, garden in the backyard, closet waiting to be purged and listed on freecycle, pantry full whole organic foods, freezer full of homemade stock and spring berries; finally at peace with not equating my success with number of material possessions my salary will allow and sometimes beyond what my salary will allow, but with the harmony my family has at home. Quality not quantity.

What does all this have to do with sustainable living? My first marriage was hardly a sustainable one. We were spending more than we made, working on our careers more than our marriage, putting our individual wants before the needs of the family, and generally had our priorities out of order. Something had to give. Unfortunately, (or fortunately, depending on the way you look at it) everything did.

It was a good life lesson.

• I do not need a giant house to impress family and friends; that never visit because I am always at work to pay for giant house, that is merely a pain to clean and requires four paychecks to heat.
• I do not need a vehicle the size of a tour bus, complete with dvd to entertain me on the exhausting half hour drive, and navigation to keep me from getting lost on the same route I take every day to work.
• I do not need a garage full of toys that teach my children to covet material possessions when the best things in life are free.
• I do not need to work three jobs to pay for an overflowing closet full of clothes that will be out of style before I could ever possibly wear them out, requiring replacement.
• I do not need to feed my family nutrient deficient food in five minutes or less with an ingredient list that takes longer to read than prepare.
  

It was not until I let go of all the things Americans use to define themselves that I began to find sustenance in my life.

Spending time with family.
The partnership with my husband.
Pride of growing our own food.
Gratitude of a home cooked meal.
Assurance of natural products.
Heartwarming of helping others.
Safety of living below our means.
Comfort of a simple life.

Priorities now:
Do I need it or do I want it?
Will it benefit the family/household? Short-term? Long-term?
Is there an alternative? (safer, cheaper, reusable, re-purpose, already own)
What is my motivation?
Is there something of greater importance that should come first?

Slowing down, making less money, and having fewer possessions has led me to a happier, healthier, sustainable life. Going green was a welcome byproduct of the transformation. I believe the two go hand in hand. We cannot sustain our current lifestyles. We will consume and consume until we become consumed.

Only through a sustainable living it is possible to reach the highest of all human goals, to permanently be able to experience inner peace, happiness and harmony (self-realization).

Learn to live with only what is needed to sustain life. You will be far "richer" for it.


To read more about sustainable living and what it means to other "greenies" check out the APLS Blog Carnival.
This month's topic: Sustainable Living is being hosted August 15, at Better Living.