Recyle That!

Each of us has a hot button, something that grates our nerves.  And depending on how our circumstances may be panning out at any given time, our hot button may stay stuck on open.  Maybe.  

For those who know me, know I like recycling.  I like to find new uses for old things.  My mind whirls with creative solutions at all times, thinking of ways to re-use stuff.  Not in a junky way, but a lovely, fairy garden sort of way. If I come across something I have no use for, I usually know someone who would have a use for it.   I just don’t like to throw things away.  I use a recycle bin and put it out to the road when the snow is less than two feet deep.  I shred paper and put that by the road.  Sometimes I use a bit of the shredded paper in my compost bin outdoors.  

So if you get the picture here………….I sort my garbage and have a specific method of what goes where and how to get the best use of everything – from a fiscal point of view to a 'save the earth for my grandchildren' point of view.  I often wonder if I have too much time on my hands which would allow me to sort trash.  I don’t believe I do.  I know my grandmother used to sort her trash.  I suppose trash sorting is hereditary.  She cared about me, so in a sense I am paying it forward.

Which brings me to the mail.  I get so many offers in the mail to renew magazines.  I don’t subscribe to most of the magazines I get offers for.  I get offers for insurance comparisons, funeral arrangement forms, credit cards, and AARP.  These people are relentless.  And apparently have a lot of money for marketing and postage.

So I got to thinking.  Rather than shred all the mail I didn’t ask for, why don’t I use the ‘no postage necessary’ envelopes they provide and return it back to them with a note asking them to delete me from their mailing list?  So that is exactly what I have been doing.  Seriously.  These solicitors have to pay postage for every envelope they receive.  So now it is really costing them!  

What I realized is, this is a hot button of mine.  I don’t like junk mail.  Whoa, settle down sister.  I also realized I am irritable and lashing out. Every time I put one of these return envelopes in the mailbox I think to myself  “I’ll show you by golly!” 

You may be wondering if I am always this crabby, or you have created a picture in your mind of a hoarder house.  Just to clear the air on that, I am definitely not a hoarder.  

It’s been a long winter.