From Scarcity to Abundance – a great model for water and a great model for life
Living in the Sonoran Desert is indeed a place where everything about water takes center stage. You know how everywhere in the world people talk about the weather? Well, in Tucson people talk about the possibility of rain with neighbors, friends, coworkers and strangers as if they are trying to conjure it. If there is a chance that it is going to happen, everyone will be talking about it. And then when it does rain everyone celebrates – people routinely sit under their patios and take walks in the rain. Then of course everyone talks about it after in great mythical tones.
People who live in the American Southwest, for the most part, have great respect for water proof of income. So it is no mistake that many people are actively harvesting rain here in Tucson. Sometimes it is done with more complex, purchased containers but often it is as simple as everyone placing their plants and spare buckets outside when there is a remote chance that it might rain.
One of my favorite authors of rain harvesting is Brad Lancaster. He is one of my favorite because he believes that each one of us can move from an idea of scarcity to an idea of abundance. Brad is talking about rain harvesting, but I think we can apply this to life as well!
I think this model of scarcity makes us anxious, depressed, and cut off from our fellow man. It makes us think that we have to dominate or horde the things we have. Think about it, if we think “oh well I can’t do anything about water scarcity,” then you will probably be depressed and probably not be motivated to do anything.
But if you think “of course I can do something,” you will feel motivated and positive and full of possibilities. You will say: “I can hook my washing machine up to provide the greywater systems water,” “I can landscape my yard differently,” and “I can use my mulch and clippings to keep moisture in the soil.” Little things add up!
Each time we live with the earth as opposed to against her we feel more full, more rich and more in tune. Make yourself happy by believing in abundance instead of scarcity. When someone takes the last piece of pie don’t cry and say there is no more pie, bake another pie!
On this day let us thank the universe for the blessing she gives us and harvest water (if we are lucky enough to have rain).