[copied and pasted from the Transition in Action site]

Many, many people do not consider themselves investors because they live hand-to-mouth, or nearly so.  It does not occur to many of us that when we purchase something, we validate everything from the vendor we encounter to methods by which raw materials were dislodged and removed from unknown and unseen places.  It does not occur to us then that we reinforce get the best one you can afford, don't make the best one/alternative you can.  It does not occur to us that much of what's available is arbitrary, and more connected to subsidized fantasies than human needs, summarized as to live, to love, to learn and to leave a legacy.

What are we thinking?  Not as much as we can when we steadily reduce our criticizing, complaining, comparing, competing and contending!

Even when we have no surplus cash, we deploy our attention, time and energies.  Let's be more and more thoughtful about them.  Not necessarily mere consumers, we are co-creators, designers and investors in the making.