Getting Started!

Hello! Since Sunday, when I decided to give this a go, I've been feeling very anxious.  Do you know that feeling you get when you're about to start something new, like a project you're really excited about?  Well, I have been feeling that, I'm ready to get going and get out there and not buy anything.  It sounds funny but it's very frustrating because this whole concept revolves around not engaging yourself in a particular activity, in this case not purchasing anything new.  I feel like I have all this built up energy and I'm ready to jump head first into it but there's not anything to jump into! So I thought that is.

I have posted this picture of Niagara Falls that I took when some friends and I stopped during a road trip.  Being at the falls is very peaceful and yet there is so much energy in the water itself, it's incredible and I love going there!  Anyways, I thought of this picture yesterday when I was running at the gym because here I was thinking that I had all of this energy and nothing to focus it on, but I was wrong!  This isn't just about not buying anything new, its about wanting to have a positive impact on the environment around me and there is plenty that I can focus my energy on!  For one thing, buying local is something I have always been interested in and really want to get into.

I graduated from RIT with a degree in Environmental Management and Technology.  While I was there I took a number of classes that were focused on sustainability and one was environmental ethics, such an awesome class!  In that class we discussed everything from buying locally to recycling more and all of the above.  During the summer months my girlfriend and I go to the Public Market every Saturday morning and I must say that Rochester has an excellent market! I've seen quite a few and Rochester has the best that I've seen so far!  It's such a great atmosphere and I love being there!  I was thinking that I really want to try to buy all of my food for the week at the market and see how it goes.  The only problem is that I have to wait till the warmer months.  The market is open year round but I've never been during the winter months so I really have no idea what they have right now.  I need to go check it out!

Along with buying food locally, I want to look into other items that I would be able to purchase that would made in Rochester, or New York, or at most the Northeast.  I'll be looking on the internet and talking with people, I'm not really sure what I'll find.  I'm really hoping that I would be able to find cleaners and necessary items that I will be buying that were made somewhere near where I live.  I may resort to making my own cleaners, we'll see!

I'll keep this updated with what I find out, this is all about trying to get my wants aligned with my needs and I want to buy what I need locally! I'm excited to really get going into this new lifestyle and see where it takes me!