palace of winds

Things I do not like:
• people talking with their mouths full
• people chewing with their mouths open
• gum-smacking
• people standing for extended periods in front of the open freezer or fridge
• people leaving the fridge open while otherwise occupied
• people leaving on lights while not in the room
• people letting the water run while brushing their teeth
• 4 or fewer people in an SUV
• overcooked pasta

I think it all comes down to my belief in the power of community (er, and my anal retentiveness). I firmly believe in the importance of me turning off the water for the minute it takes to brush my teeth. I believe in the impact of closing the fridge while I’m measuring out a cup of milk on the counter beside it. I believe in the compounding of actions. Maybe my neighbor does not care about the thirty seconds that the cold is pouring out of their own fridge, but that doesn’t give me license not to care about mine. All the tiniest things I can do to conserve I do. What couldn’t be accomplished if everyone did them? How much could we all save by living mindfully every day, in all of these small ways? It’s not such an inconvenience to close and reopen the fridge. Truly.

Also I prefer my pasta al dente.