What do Teflon and Velcro have to do with our outlook on life? I reveal the answer to that in week 10 of The Sunday Spark, a series with weekly thoughts and highlights, nuggets of learning, and a sustainable living tip for the week.
Also this week: a world with no forests, the carbon footprint of our devices, the health benefits of kiwi skin, and alternatives to fabric softener.
The Sunday Spark – Week 10
On my mind this week: Will you choose Teflon or Velcro?
Last Sunday at church, a visiting priest delivered the most amazing homily. It was all about Teflon and Velcro. Sounds like an odd theme for a sermon, right? That’s what I thought at first.
The priest spoke about how it’s human nature to focus on the negative. If you do something and get ten compliments and one complaint, it’s likely you’ll focus on the sole complaint and let it overrule the ten compliments.
The key message of the homily was about choosing which things we want to be Teflon for us, and those that should be Velcro.
So instead of focusing on what’s wrong in our lives, we can choose to focus on what’s right. For example, when our teenagers give us grief, we can stop and remind ourselves of the amazing feeling when we first held them after they were born. Similarly, instead of focusing on our spouse’s annoying little habits, think about the joy of our wedding day or our first date.
Which things are Teflon or Velcro for you?
This sermon was so powerful, I’ve been thinking about it on and off all week. Did you ever stop to think which types of things are Velcro and which are Teflon for you? Which types of criticisms do you hold on to and which do you let go?
For me, criticisms and comments related to my physical appearance are Teflon. It’s just an area that I don’t worry about too much because ultimately, it’s what’s on the inside that matters.
On the other hand, workplace politics really get to me, especially people who like to make themselves look good by putting others down or by taking credit for the work of others. Those are Velcro moments for sure!
I suppose the key is to make a conscious choice to let the bad stuff slide off—like water off a duck’s back, or eggs off your favourite Teflon frying pan. Then, hang on to the good things like Velcro.
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Three highlights of the week
Every week on The Sunday Spark, I share three milestones and simple pleasures of the week. Keeping the trend going, here are three highlights and simple pleasures of the week gone by:
- After a couple of hectic weeks of travel, this week I got to stay home. I took advantage of my Friday off at home to catch up on paperwork, taxes, and other tasks I had been putting off.
- On Wednesday, I went into the office and had a lovely lunchtime visit with a couple of long-time co-workers.
- On Friday at the Supermarket, I found English cucumbers with no plastic packaging. Almost two years after I wrote this post about excessive packaging, it seems someone may have finally solved the cucumber conundrum.
Three things I learned this week
Life is all about learning. Here are three things I learned this week:
A world with no forests?
At our global employee forum at work this week, I heard a shocking statistic about the world’s forests. Did you know that 80% of the world’s forests have been clearcut? (Source: Thomas Canguilhem, EcoTree)
This is alarming for a couple of reasons. First, forests are the world’s second largest carbon sink after oceans. Plus, consider that 80% of the world’s species live in forests. Destroying forests has a devastating impact on the ecosystems that depend on them.
The environmental impact of our devices
How many electronic devices do you have in your home? Off the top of my head, I can count at least 12 in our home: computers, tablets, mobile phones, Smart TVs…
The next question is how long do you keep your devices before replacing them? Two years? Three years? Whatever the number, it’s not long enough. According to the European Environmental Bureau, a smartphone would need to be used for between 25 and 232 years to completely offset its manufacturing carbon footprint. (Source: Earth911)
You can reduce the impact of your devices by keeping them for longer and recycling them appropriately when you no longer need them. Recycling prevents toxic metals from harming the environment, and it extracts and reuses useful materials.
Check out Earth911’s article for tips on recycling your electronics. Most of the tips in that article are for the U.S.A. In Canada, visit RecycleMyElectronics.ca for information.
Kiwi skin is edible
Do you enjoy eating kiwi? Like most people, I always peel mine before eating. I was surprised to learn this week that you can eat kiwi skin, and it’s good for you. Kiwi skin is rich in fibre, antioxidants, and folate. If you don’t like the fuzzy texture, scrub the fuzz off before eating, or throw it in a blender along with other smoothie ingredients. (Source: Cleveland Clinic)
Sustainable living tip: alternatives to fabric softener
Do you still use fabric softener? Have you ever thought about how it gets your clothes soft and reduces static?
Fabric softeners deposit a layer of electrically charged chemicals on fabric, causing them to fluff up and feel softer. (Source: Consumer Reports) Following my cancer diagnosis, as I sought to reduce my exposure to unnecessary chemicals, fabric softener was one of the first items I removed from my shopping list.
If you’re still using fabric softener or dryer sheets, it’s time to consider alternatives. The easiest thing to do to reduce static is to air dry your clothes as much as possible. In cases when you can’t hang your laundry, dryer balls are an economical and chemical-free option. After using plastic dryer balls for a few years, I picked up a set of six wool dryer balls a few years ago and they work great. In addition to reducing static, they save energy by reducing drying time.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on any of this week’s topics. Drop me a comment below and let me know your thoughts and ideas.
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Do you have a fabric softener suggestion for washer-dryer combinations? We live in a motor home now and have one of those. But honestly, I only have one shirt that’s still clingy after laundering.
Oh that’s a good question, Kim. I think the plastic dryer balls would work in a washer-dryer.
Cool, I’ll look into that. I used to have some, don’t know where they went…probably in storage lol
These are great suggestions and I am glad you got to work from home.
Yes. There’s nothing like being away to make us appreciate home!
I always have a moment when I see those cucumbers in plastic. I sort of want to yell out WHY?? or ask someone if they grow that way?? So frustrating. Drier balls are great!
I know! The CEO of Canada’s largest grocery chain said some of the angriest emails he ever received from customers were about cucumbers. Sad that it took this long to solve it.
I’m wondering if a campaign like that (emails) would have an impact down here in the US? I’m going to look into it!
It might. I think the only way these corporations will change their ways is if consumer put pressure on them.
It is interesting that the sermon touched on the aspects of negativity. I find that as a society we are trained to see only the negative and find the positive to be a touch suspicious. Once I realized what I was doing I made a concentrated effort to stop seeing the negative and focus on the positive and it certainly changes the way that one sees things. I had also mentioned it to K and shortly after something happened and because she recalled our conversation she found the positive before addressing the negative. It made it easier for her. 🙂
Thanks Jay-lyn. You’re right. Society does condition us to focus on the negative. And the media just adds fuel to the fire.
Exactly. For every negative story they should have to do 3 positive stories. About people doing and being kind. That can be done and still make huge differences in the world. Have a happy Sunday Michelle 😊
Wouldn’t that be wonderful! I would actually start watching the news more if it was like that. You have a wonderful Sunday too!
🙂
Great post Michelle! Lots of great information. I especially like the bit about how long we’d need to use our cell phones – shocking! I do my bit by using mine until it doesn’t do the job anymore. My last phone made it 6 years at which point I pass it off to my husband who uses it for a camera now so it’s technically still in use. My new phone is a hand-me-down from my son who upgrades far too often. Also about the dryer balls. I made my own a few years back and still use them. Have a nice Sunday!
Hi Roze! Thanks for dropping by.
That’s awesome that you keep your phone that long. Mine is a work phone so I keep it until the company tells me I have to upgrade. If it was a personal phone, I would keep it for longer.
Love that you made your own dryer balls. How did you do that?
Hi again, dryer balls are pretty easy and their are a couple of ways to do them. I have the tools for wool felting so I just use wool roving (loose wool) and felt it into a ball shape. I have seen instructions for making them in an old leg of nylons (pantyhose) but haven’t tried that yet. I made alot of dryer balls a few years ago and gave a set to each of my adult children as well as other family members for Christmas. They all love them.
That’s fantastic Roze. Thanks for sharing!
I can’t wait to see cucumbers not wrapped in plastic in the UK!
I’m shocked at the 80% loss of our forests. That’s catastrophic but it still goes on. When are they going to stop?
I was so excited about the cucumbers! Finally.
Yes, the 80% number about the forests is definitely shocking. The sad part is, we know the damage it does, yet our capitalistic society just keeps cutting.