The Theme for 2013

Every January 1st,  I choose a theme.  The theme typically starts out as a hint of inspiration that develops with intention throughout the year.

The theme for 2013 is: RESTORE.

The idea is still new in my mind as I write this, but it contains the following threads:

• I live in a city where greenfield development is cheaper than remodeling, so there is urban sprawl.
• We live in a country where it is easier--and many times more cost-effective--to throw things away and buy new than to repair. 
• We live in a world where we move too fast to even think about the role we play personally in overflowing landfills, factory farming practices and sweatshops in third-world countries. 
• We live in a time where those types of actions will cease to be sustainable. 

As I type this, my backpack is lying on the kitchen table with a big gash in the side.  I dropped it on the muffler of my scooter while it was still hot and it melted. Normally, I would trash it and pick up a new one because I have the resources to do so. But it also doesn't feel responsible to do that.  So I thought about it.  How would one repair a backpack? As I was thinking on this, it occurred to me that a little bit of black duct tape was really all I needed. Would it be as "good as new"? No. But it also wouldn't be that noticeable and it would keep it serviceable.  Yet, most of the time, I don't take the time to think about these types of things.  And maybe I should.

In past years, the themes have surprised me in the way that they have grown to define a year. If that pattern repeats itself, I have to say, I'm really excited about this one.