Letter from the editor.

As I write this, there are fewer people on the road in my hometown. Gas station pumps all have brown bags over them. Two days ago, I had a meeting with Teresa, our editorial manager, in my vehicle while we waited in line to get my ten-gallon allotment of gasoline. People at the pumps were mad, scared, frustrated. The man in front of us, in white painter coveralls and hat, kept coming back to my window to laugh and roll his eyes, with comments on the silliness of the whole situation. We planned together a strategy for creating a path for his white van out through the mesh of cars and getting my car back into my place in line afterwards. We laughed together and made what jokes we could. What else can you do?

We are beginning to find out what the limits of our resources really are. America, a culture based in capitalization of resources, is suddenly finding that there is a limit to our squandering. In exchange for using everything on the Earth for our own comfort and pleasure, what are we giving back to the Earth? Are we only able to truly appreciate the abundance we've had as it begins to disappear?

What better time to explore the meaning of efficiency. Efficiency can be motivated by several things. People can start being efficient because they're afraid of running out, but we also have the ability to be efficient out of appreciation. If we truly appreciate each bite of food that we chew, will we ever overeat? If we truly appreciate each square inch of the land on which we live, do we need to acquire more and more? If we appreciate the blessings of having a roof over our heads, do we need to cut down more trees and disturb more land to build something bigger, better? When we have something bigger and better, do we really appreciate it, or do we keep looking for more?

We are products of an insatiable culture; our people have lost our ability to appreciate and accept what we have. It just isn't done. What a terrible loss! We're culturally conditioned to look at the world around us with dissatisfaction, to feel the emptiness of our lives, and say, "What else can I acquire that will fulfill me?" or "If I just had that thing, then I would be happy. I am sad/stressed/unsatisfied only because I don't have that thing."

Living simply, efficiently, savoring every bite of our lives, shows our appreciation and fills us up. Walking in connection to each moment brings a deep joy that has nothing to do with acquiring anything. It's just tapping into the magic that's there for the taking, all around us, all the time. Try starting each day with a prayer of appreciation, and making that quality the theme for your day. You will find that you work less, stress less, need less stuff and less stimulation. Giving back gratitude for each breath, each bite of food, each gallon of gas, and waiter in a restaurant is the first step. Efficiency will follow.

Erin Everett

Editor/Publisher