What’s in a name?

minify [ˈmɪnɪˌfaɪ]

vb -fies, -fying, -fied (tr) Rare to minimize or lessen the size or importance of (something)

[from Latin minus less; for form, compare magnify]

minification  [ˌmɪnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən] n

 

 

The purpose of this blog is to chronicle our efforts  – and support the efforts of others – to minify our carbon footprints, our consumption, and our possessions, and by so doing, to magnify our happiness and quality of life.

definition courtesy of the free online dictionary

This started out as a personal project, mostly a way to keep writing now that I’ve stopped studying creative writing and started studying equally interesting, albeit less literary, things like Autism and adoption. Lately I’ve been thinking that there’s a missing piece in the sustainability dialogue. No Impact Man got a front page spread in the New York Times…as “my year without toilet paper.” RowdyKittens gets featured in the Times as well, but the article makes much ado about living in a small space, on a minimal income. What about all of the benefits of sustainable living? What about all of the ways that it enriches one’s life, promotes healthier social relationships and fuller participation in life and improves health? It’s become a research interest of mine – are the narratives of people seeking to live sustainably congruent with media depictions, and vice versa? There’s no universal answer, because everyone’s experience is going to be different, but I’m interested to see what I learn!

Want to send me an email? You can reach me at projectminify (at) gmail (dot) com