Sarah
Today marks the beginning of Project Spectrum, brainchild of the fabulous Lolly. The project is a fun way to push yourself to explore different colors and textures, and I think the way Lolly has organized it this year is going to be exceptionally inspiring: each two-month period has an "element" theme, with colors related to that element. February and March are "Fire" (orange, red, and pink), April and May are "Earth" (green, brown, and metallics), June and July are "Air" (gray, white, and yellow), and August and September are "Water" (blue, black, and purple).
Some people choose to knit with the PS colors, or seek them out with their cameras, or sew with these shades of fabrics. Last year, my friend Liz changed her blog's theme to reflect the changing PS colors, while others tried incorporating PS-colored foods into their diet.
This year, in the lead-up to Project Spectrum, I had an interesting idea as I was reading Michael Pollan's book "In Defense of Food": why not go on a Project Spectrum "diet"? I care about my health, and I care about eating well and sustainably. Happily, these goals all mesh together well -- the healthiest, most delicious foods tend also to be the most sustainable. These are goals I've had for a while and am always working towards, but I think that by really focusing on them mindfully during Project Spectrum, I can do a better job of incorporating these changes into my lifestyle.
These are just goals I've set for myself, and if you'd like to join me, feel free to set your own -- there's already a little group of us on Ravelry in the Project Spectrum forums, and we'd be happy to have you join our conversation!
February/March: Fire
In this two-month period, I will bake my own
bread from scratch instead of buying it from the supermarket. (This
goes for desserts, crackers, etc. as well.) Also, I will eat every bite
of every meal, snack, or nibble at the table, to help myself to eat
more mindfully and savor my food.
April/May:
Earth
In this two-month period, I will go to the farmer’s market at
least once a week to buy my fruits and vegetables. I will eat less
meat, especially red meat, and avoid processed foods and fast foods.
June/July:
Air
In this two-month period, I will get more fresh air. I will go
outside every single day for a walk, a hike, a bike ride, or a trip to
the park.
August/September:
Water
In this two-month period, I will drink water. OK, so I’ll also
still drink my (one) morning cup of coffee, and my one small glass of
wine a few times a week with dinner, but no sodas, no juice, no Starbucks, no smoothies.