As a citizen of this planet, let me begin with genuine thanks to all of the people who flooded the streets yesterday in an attempt to protect the civil rights of all Americans. While the gesture is a great place to start, I hope the plan isn’t to flood back into your homes and back on Facebook to continue to talk about change. If you want progress, and if you want your life to matter, you must act.

The world has landed in the hands of Donald J. Trump because the American people allowed it to. By participating in the materialistic culture we’ve manifested here, you are responsible for the degradation of land and human spirit that results. Every time you buy a new iPhone when your old one still works, or you buy clothes made with toxic dyes by people in sweatshops, or you consume media pumped out by the rich and fabulous who want you to envy (then pay for) their lifestyle, you vote for Donald J. Trump and the vision that he has for America. Equality will only come when each and every citizen who is able takes responsibility for their actions, and the part they play, and the votes they make with every dollar they spend.

I am not advising you start buying fair-trade, local, organic and used goods, although that is an admirable start. I am asking you to buy less. Stop filling the emptiness left by foregoing nature and human connection with ‘things’ that you ‘need.’ If you can be grateful for what you have, and recognize that your purchases spell disaster for environments, creatures and vulnerable people worldwide, you might actually be able to make a difference, even if that difference is simply the love you feel in your heart. 

Thank you for reading, and have a wonder filled day.

M.M.