I love Anne Lamott’s non-fiction, particularly Operating Instructions and her book on writing, Bird by Bird.  I read Bird by Bird a few years ago and threw it down after a couple of chapters, totally put-off by her repetitive admission of total neuroses.  I didn’t appreciate someone as worried as I letting it all hang out.  It hit way too close to home.

Fast forward a few years and this book is a delight.  I haven’t yet completely embraced my neuroses, but at least we’re on friendly terms.  In Bird by Bird, Lamott introduces the concept of “small assignments,” the simple idea that a large intimidating project can be broken down into small manageable pieces and eventually mastered.

The state of the environment has been niggling at my conscience for awhile now, and my new gig with Crowd Fusion (our green site launches in December) is a great excuse to begin making changes.

But I’m using Anne Lamott’s approach and I”m taking it bird by bird.

I’m documenting my 30-day eco-makeover at our site, but you won’t be able to read it for awhile.  Each day I’m making one small change or doing one piece of research to live a more eco-friendly life.

This week, we’re revamping our laundry detergent and I’m researching skin products not laced with parabens or other evil chemicals.

I’m also starting a collection of feeds for excellent green websites, so if you have any to recommend, please do share, whether it’s your blog or a news feed that is particularly helpful and informative.

Onward!

So many things can happen in one year: Babies are born, economies crumble, jobs come and go, books are written, lives are changed, illnesses are battled, love waxes and wanes, Democrats win by a landslide (they will, dammit!).

On October 10, 2007, I decided to stop drinking.  A small thing when compared to polar ice caps melting, battling cancer, or losing and gaining love, but a large thing when measured against breathing in and out, making meals for children, washing hair, and feeling things unravel from the inside out. Unsure of the next step, but sure that doom was imminent, I reached out to a 12-step group and found home.

Home, like I’ve not had since I was 10, a place of welcoming ease, total honesty, mutual struggle, and above all else, loving kindness.

Today I will attend my home group, a place I go nearly every day at Noon, to receive my one-year coin for 12 months of continuous sobriety.  It is a coin I take to honor the efforts of all of the wonderful members of my 12-step group, my loving family and friends, but also a coin to signify the absolute miracle that I hardly ever think of drinking anymore.  I rarely crave a drink.  I never wish for the ability to drink normally. I can sit right next to people drinking away and hardly even once think “Nummy!!”

Aside from this miracle, I’ve been given a golden rope to cling to, in the dark, in confusion, and in joy.  I always now have somewhere to go for comfort and joy and laughing.  If I’m able to bring even a small spec of this same joy to my family and to the world, then all will truly be well.

From where I stand, I’ve given up drinking and in return have gotten the whole world.

Thank you.

****

As I complete my first year of sobriety, I’m winding up talking about recovery on this blog.  Recovery is ongoing and it will still be woven in here, but now I’m turning my attention to becoming more environmentally responsible, more conscious and caring.  This blog will start to document my conversion from green wannabe to green day by day.  I won’t wear hemp, probably won’t give up my car, and won’t likely give up meat, but I will make small manageable changes day by day.  I’d love for you to join me.

This week I’m starting my new gig as managing editor of an on-line magazine launching this winter. My new employer, Crowd Fusion, is full of fancy Internet peeps and I’m honored to be among them. It’s full-time but all from home with only occasional travel, so very exciting.

I’ll be putting up notices of job openings here soon. Stay tuned!

Meanwhile: This disturbing series of pictures is thanks to the endlessly amusing Apple program: Photo Booth.

Have Photo Booth? Amuse your children for hours!!

Rachael

P.S. I’ve fallen into a big vat of FRUMP these past few weeks, between work stuff, appendicitis, and kids getting ready for school. High heel pink shoes take me away!!

Frump Exhibit A: