And it is having enough community - knowing our neighbors and working with them to improve conditions in our neighborhoods and in the world. In the process we may also regain our health, our sanity, our families, our friends, our neighborhoods and our credibility in the community of nations. If we go to the UN Conference on Environment and Development telling others what they must do to save the world and yet fail to cut down our own massive personal consumption, surely our hypocrisy will detract from the efficacy of whatever other advice we may offer. If we champion other causes but fail to acknowledge and control our own spending, our efforts are in vain. This may sound difficult, but it is surprisingly easy.
Awareness alone trims excess spending on unconscious, unnecessary and unfulfilling expenses.