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Proposing a Process for a Paperless Proclivity

By karen | January 16, 2008

I love paper. I love paper as in notebooks filled with plans, journals filled with Love and Gratitude,paperback novels that captivate my attention, and of course, books, all books, the touch, the smell, the feel, the utter pleasure of learning, growing and being entertained.
I love Art paper. I love sketch pads, tracing paper, tissue paper and crepe paper. I love construction paper, scrapbook paper, stationary. Cold-pressed watercolor paper is something I dream about and long for.

In short, I love paper.

So when Debra Moorhead from Debra Moorhead.com invited me to participate in a meme about “going paperless” , the first thing I thought was that I didn’t want to go “paperless” because of all of the paper that I love. I actually feel very good about my reaction as I am developing the habit of defaulting to the things I love and the things I want, rather than the things that I don’t want! There is great value in focusing on the things you love, the good things in life.

But as with everything, there are, of course, two sides. While there is all of that wonderful paper that brings me joy and happiness, there is also the “other kind” of paper, the kind of paper that is wasteful, takes up space, makes clutter and is definitely environmentally unfriendly!

That is the kind of paper it would be nice to eliminate!

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everybody started to pay their bills online? Think of the paper savings in checks, envelopes and billings.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everybody started taking their own reusable bags to the grocery and department stores? Think of the savings of paper from not using the brown paper bags or the plastic bags. (I am happy to say that I have this one down, I always take my own bag. It feels good!)

What if everyone started to say “no” to the endless receipts from the ATM, the library, even the stores. Wouldn’t an online solution to all of that work just as well or even better for a record keeping device?

The one thing I think it would be good to eliminate but I really struggle with is paper towels. With young children it is easy to become addicted to the convenience and then there is also the fact that paper towels are much more sanitary and unfriendly to germs than say, sponges. However, there are reusable cloths that you can buy that will work just as well as paper towels in many instances. If you keep a small laundry basket close to the kitchen to keep the dirty ones until it’s time for laundry that makes it easier too! So while the addiction is not totally broken as of yet, we are working on it! We have cut down tremendously!

As for the paperless office, the majority of things are on the computer. Some are not but of course, as with everything it is a process. Completely paperless in the office is a big goal. But it is one that can be reached.

In the meantime, I don’t want to give up books, even though the new Kindle from Amazon claims it can be done. I haven’t seen it in real life but it just doesn’t quite look snuggly enough for hiding under the covers with a good book to read. And having to purchase every single book that I read doesn’t sound very cost-effective, being as I am somewhat of an addict! E-books are great but again, they just haven’t evolved enough to snuggle well under the covers with a flashlight ! (actually since I got to be a “grown-up” I gave up the flashlight—but memories of my 10 year old self popped up!)

So until they do, I will keep and enjoy and revel in the papers that I love, the books, the journals, and the wonderful art paper but I will also enjoy the process of trying to eliminate the other kind of papers that I don’t.

(P.S. As for the title of this post, the only thing I can say is that with a word like “paperless” I couldn’t resist!)

Have a Joyful day!

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Topics: Personal Development, Real Life |

2 Responses to “Proposing a Process for a Paperless Proclivity”

  1. Debra Moorhead Says:
    January 16th, 2008 at 9:25 am

    Karen,

    Thanks so much for this - you’ve hit on an issue that we all feel passionately about and that is we don’t necessarily have to give up all paper. Some of the other bloggers and commenters have some solutions for you in the paper towel department - I’ll be compiling the list in a couple of weeks.

    I was a little worried when I read your title. Have you read Aaron Potts post on this? I thought, “So the bloggers of the world had a meeting and decided to start using alliteration in all titles, but they forget to tell me!”

    Now I get it.

    Thanks for participating - I appreciate you!

  2. karen Says:
    January 16th, 2008 at 10:32 am

    Thanks, Debra…
    yeah, I did read Aaron’s and perhaps it inspired me for the title…I didn’t consciously think about copying him, it was just too tempting with a word like “paperless”….however imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I’ll tell Aaron that!
    No meeting actually….(at least I wasn’t there!)

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