Robin Boles

Today I hung my laundry out to dry. It’s such a simple act but one that brings me great joy. I love everything about using a clothesline for drying my laundry: the task itself, the smell, the feel, and the sense of wellbeing I get when I see the clean clothes billowing on the line. Everything! 

Hanging my laundry to dry doesn’t require great thought or physical effort, but it engages both my mind and body just enough to provide mental and physical stimulation and satisfaction. 

Of course, I could hang it all willy-nilly and it would still dry; this is obvious when my husband hangs his laundry. But, for me, bringing intention and deliberation and following a few simple “rules” transforms the process from a potentially boring and lengthy household chore into a form of meditation, providing both a sense of calm and visual appeal. 

When I whip each item in the air to work out the wrinkles before hanging it, the snap of the wet fabric hits my brain like a Zen bell calling my attention to the present moment: birdsong, the breeze blowing through the trees, and the feel of the damp fabric in my hands.  

This practice provides loads of simple satisfactions: the feel of the clothes when they come off the line, crisp and fresh, their smell, clean and clear – better than any dryer sheets that claim to smell like “Spring Meadows” or “Fresh Rain.” And, I’m not running my dryer, which means not only does hanging my laundry feed my soul, but it also saves energy and exemplifies a simple act of sustainability. 

I’m not fooled into thinking hanging my laundry will reverse climate change; however, I can behave proactively, save money, and serve as an example when I choose to hang my laundry. Yes, it takes more time and work than simply hefting wet clothes into the dryer and turning the knob, but this simple rebellion against the corporate kings of convenience gives me a little sense of control.  

In my experience, I have noticed when I simplify, sustainability follows. And my budget benefits when I behave sustainably. Ergo, I have found simplicity provides a good measure for whether I should invest my time and energy into something for the planet, for my wallet, and for my mental well-being. 

We live in a complex world. These devices we carry around in our pockets have fooled us. We think they’ll make our lives easier, which they can, but they also steal our time, and, more importantly, they sap our mental energy. If only we could use them for the tools they are, then set them aside to live in the corporeal world where we actually feel pleasure and pain as physical sensations and not simply rely on dopamine hits that come from arbitrary “likes” and “comments” from the virtual world. 

Turning off our screens and saying “no” to streaming serves as another simple act of sustainability, which can benefit us in big ways.

The convenience and ease of streaming any content we desire is tempting, but consider fireflies. No, not the sci-fi series FireFly that you can stream on any number of services, but the real deal: actual flying, glowing insects that we have the good luck to witness every year. What if instead of streaming, we spent our evenings outdoors watching for the first fireflies of the season or glimpsing the stars emerging one by one as we observe the subtle transition from dusk into night? 

Again, these moments provide mental calm, they cost nothing, and they do no harm to the environment. 

Simple acts of sustainability. Finding small ways to slow down and enjoy simple pleasures. 

While we should all commit simple acts of sustainability on a regular basis, there must also be sweeping acts of sustainability.

I’ve been involved in a lot of conversations about sustainability in our community. Many are around kitchen tables, some at City Hall, others at the St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center, some at UW-River Falls, and still more at the public library. These conversations have been with different people and different groups with different goals, but they reveal that sustainability is of paramount importance to people in our community. 

Earlier this winter, I participated in a workshop series funded by the Twin Cities Metropolitan Council in a large-scale effort to create a climate action plan for the metro region. River Falls attendees have decided to forge ahead and adapt this work to address needs in our own community. Currently, we are looking for individuals interested in working on these sustainability and climate action initiatives with other community members, non-profit organizations, businesses, and municipal leaders.

If this work sparks your interest, please email hopeforearthrf@gmail.com for more information and to be linked with an interest form. If you choose, we will add you to our list of involved citizens working on these initiatives. Local action has never been more important for our own well-being and our community’s longevity and best interests. This is your opportunity to have an impact. 

As you settle into spring, I invite you to engage in your own simple acts of sustainability. Avoid convenience, take the time to do something more simply – for yourself, your community, and our planet.