#self-reliance — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #self-reliance, aggregated by home.social.
-
[2/2] #StarIsland, #GosportNH - #GreenGosport Initiatives that can be practiced on the #Mainland!
"Plan Your Errands
Star Island: We run a boat back and forth to the mainland most days of the week, and we recognize the cost of doing so both environmentally and economically. By planning our boat schedule accordingly, we eliminate unnecessary or redundant trips and reduce the number of times we need to go back and forth. This means less diesel to power the boat.
Mainland: When you have errands to do, make one long trip out of it instead of several. Going back and forth from your home is less efficient time wise, but also uses more gasoline if you’re driving. This requires planning, but we know you can do it. You plan to come to Star Island, right?
Star Island: #Walking is how we get around on Star Island. Aside from a few freight trucks used to move heavy objects around the island (like luggage, or trash), people get from A to B by walking. This provides exercise, but also means that we are not using carbon-based fuels for transportation. Walking is an easy way to get where you’re going on island, even if it requires three flights of stairs. The only time we don’t suggest walking on island is if you’re late for a boat, then try running.
Mainland: We recognize that walking isn’t always the most practical form of transportation on the mainland, but we encourage you to think about where you can walk. If you live near your city center, why not walk to go out to eat instead of drive? Or, if you’re driving to a shopping center, park once and walk to several stores instead of driving to each one. Walking takes time, yes, but it’s well worth it. Studies have even suggested walking promotes creativity.
Make Informed Purchases
Star Island: We make purchases mindfully and consider several factors: do we need this item? Is this item energy efficient / #EnvironmentallyFriendly? What’s the quality, will this item last? Are we supporting another local organization? Sometimes we seek alternatives. For example, we mix #vinegar and #BakingSoda together for an all-purpose cleaner and use vinegar to wash windows and mirrors instead of glass cleaner. Also, we consider packaging when purchasing: is the product packaged in bulk? Can we reuse or recycle the packaging?
Mainland: When you’re shopping, think about what you need instead of what you want. You might miss the latest cellphone craze, but you’ll still be able to text and call people, right? Shop second hand. Purchase in bulk and reuse containers (for example: use canning jars to purchase and store dry goods such as coffee, popcorn, oats, and rice among others). Also, consider paper bags instead of plastic bags when making purchases. Or, remember to use a reusable bag or opt out if you’re only purchasing a few items.
Comfort Level
Everywhere: Do what makes sense for you. Don’t walk 50 miles to work when taking public transportation makes more sense. And if you don’t have a yard, growing a garden will be rather difficult. We encourage you to make choices that you are comfortable with, but also to ask yourself if you can do more to make a sustainable impact in your life and for your community. Be creative. Have fun. #GoGreen! "
Source:
https://starisland.org/the-island/green/practices/#SolarPunkSunday #SolarPunk #SelfReliance #RenewableEnergy
#Renewables #RenewablesNow
#GreenPractices #OffGrid #IslandLiving #EcoConsciousLiving #IslesOfShoals -
[1/2] #StarIsland, #GosportNH - #GreenGosport Initiatives that can be practiced on the #Mainland!
Green Practices
"For centuries, living on Star Island has required a knowledge of conservation and respecting the environment. Since 2011, we have taken a more proactive approach to this with the Green Gosport Initiative — a program designed to educate our island and mainland communities about sustainability, and to serve as a model for others. The efforts we make on island are sometimes huge (we recently installed a solar array), but often are relatively easy to accomplish. Here are some of the things we do on Star to reduce our impact locally while thinking globally. We’ve included suggestions about how you can take what we do on the island and practice it on the mainland.
#ReuseStar Island: Everything carried to the island needs to be carried off, unless it can be turned into something useful. Therefore, we seriously consider how we can reuse items on-island before trashing or recycling them. For example, several years ago we collected used glass bottles to line the beds in our vegetable gardens. We also reuse historic furniture and replace small parts instead of replacing entire fixtures. We also reuse food waste to create compost, which in turn helps to grow more food.
Mainland: Instead of throwing something away, ask yourself if you can reuse it. Some simple things to reuse include plastic sandwich bags for more sandwiches, shopping bags as trash bags, and newspaper for kindling or wrapping paper. Random bits of plastic from everyday products and toys might also be great sources for a rainy day art project. And to help you stay hyrdated, use a water bottle to refill instead of buying new bottled water.
Star Island: When you can’t reuse, recycle. We send metal, glass and paper off island to get recycled if we can’t reuse it.
Mainland: Most municipalities have curbside recycling, and we encourage you to take advantage of this easy way to recycle. Also, if you’re ever out and about and need to dispose of something (paper coffee cup, plastic drink bottle), check to see if it is recyclable and find a proper receptacle instead of trashing by default.
Use #RenewableEnergyStar Island: In the fall of 2014 we installed a solar array on Star that has provided an estimated 60% of our energy needs since the 2015 summer. We’re not fully running on solar power, but this renewable energy source is our focus moving forward.
Mainland: Installing solar panels on your home allows you to take advantage of sustainable energy and excess, unused energy can even be back fed into the larger electrical grid. Not only are you taking a step to reduce carbon emissions, but you could also be saving money.
Turn Off Lights
Star Island: We turn the lights off whenever possible. Although lights are left on in certain public spaces such as walkways, hallways, and the main lobby for safety, for the most part the island goes dark at night. We even rely entirely on candlelight for evening chapel services. On Star we’re swapping outdated bulbs (incandescents) for more efficient LEDs, and considering sensors for lights in areas that don’t need to be lit when no one’s using them at night (bathrooms, hallways, walkways). Fewer lights means less electricity, reducing the need to use as much diesel to support the solar array.
Mainland: If you’re the last one leaving a room, turn the light off; installing automatic switches can be helpful if you’re apt to forget. Also, question if you really need the light on-daylight is often just fine. Fewer lights means less electricity, which may even reduce your electric bill.
Use Energy Efficient Equipment
Star Island: Replacing equipment with more efficient models has allowed us to reduce demands on our island’s infrastructure. A recent example is the purchase of a new dishwasher, which uses less power during operation and also uses less water. Less water used means less drinking water treated and less used water sent to the island’s wastewater treatment facility. This leaves more water available for other uses, such as guest showers. Water and wastewater treatment are also two of the three biggest electrical uses on-island, so this energy and water efficient dishwasher means an overall reduction in energy use. On Star we’re also swapping outdated bulbs (incandescents) for more efficient LED’s.
Mainland: Replace household appliances with those receiving Energy Star rating. Energy Star products are “certified to save energy without sacrificing features or functionality.” This rating helps you choose household equipment that can help realize energy savings. Click here to learn more.
Star Island: Over the past few years we’ve been generating more produce from the several vegetable gardens on island. This produce supplements the food we order from the mainland. By growing our own food, we are also able to eat fresher, more nutritious food and also reduce the cost of our food bill.
Mainland: Just like a 1940’s victory garden, growing a portion of your own food is a great cause. You are stating that you want to know where your food comes from, and you’re choosing varieties of produce you like. Having your own food in your yard, or in a planter on your porch might also mean less trips to the grocery store.
Eat Your Veggies
Star Island: We know that eating your vegetables isn’t just good for your body, it can be good for the environment, too. Every meal on Star includes a vegetarian option. When you register, just let us know you’ll be choosing the vegetarian option. And while we have your attention, why not consider making your stay on Star a chance to try out being a vegatarian? You’ll still get your protein and iron, don’t worry. Want to learn more? Click here to read about the effects of cattle farming on the environment.
Mainland: Try practicing a vegetarian diet. You might find your grocery bill to be lower than usual, and you might find some awesome recipes that you’ll keep forever. If switching to a vegetarian diet is a bit too much, we suggest trying #MeatlessMondays as a way to incorporate meals one day a week that are less intenstive on the environment.
Star Island: Everything carried to the island needs to be carried off, unless it can be turned into something useful. We separate food waste from trash and compost this to transform it into a beneficial commodity that helps improve island soil in gardens and on the lawn. Chickens also help by eating leftovers such as bread, oatmeal, and mashed potatoes (they love vegetarian pot pie!). Composting food waste helps reduce demands on island boats and provides the island with a reusable product.
Mainland: A small compost bin is easy to use and maintain for household scraps. You can build your own, or check with your town/municipality to see if they participate in a program that offers compost bins for a reduced cost. By composting you reduce the amount of waste that is thrown into landfills. Some municipalities are even starting to collect compost along with trash and recycling. We encourage you to investigate your mainland options including companies that collect compost for you.
Take Fewer, Shorter Showers
Star Island: If you’ve stayed on Star Island you know that we have a shower schedule that provides 3 showers for both staff and guests over a 7-day period. We limit showers because water on-island is hard to come by. Yes, there’s plenty of salt water nearby, but fresh water isn’t readily available (recall the Rime of the Ancient Mariner: Water, water everywhere and not one drop to drink). Fresh water is provided through reverse osmosis of sea water, filtration and disinfection of collected #rainwater, and water delivery by boat (i.e. a lot of work).
Mainland: An every other day shower schedule isn’t just something to practice for water conservation, it’s also recommended for your skin and hair health."
https://starisland.org/the-island/green/practices/
#SolarPunkSunday #SolarPunk #SelfReliance #RenewableEnergy
#Renewables #RenewablesNow
#GreenPractices #OffGrid #IslandLiving #EcoConsciousLiving #IslesOfShoals -
The Isle of #Eigg: The community-owned island that powers itself
Despite being one of the smallest Scottish islands with just 110 residents, the Isle of Eigg is a model of forward-thinking, sustainable, eco-conscious living.
By Hugh Tucker
31st October 2023
"As the ferry bobbed with the ebb and flow of the tide against the concrete pier at the Isle of Eigg, there was a delay before the passengers could disembark. Boxes and parcels were heaved up from the boat to the waiting hands above, and the bow was double-checked to ensure nothing had been forgotten. Last to be unloaded was a bundle of newspapers, tightly rolled and individually labelled. As they were lifted, one slipped and rolled back towards the steps leading down to the water. It was stopped by the boot of one of the ferry crew just before it reached the edge. Although it was only a paper, even those just arriving seemed to sense the stakes were higher here and shared the relief of the islanders waiting on the pier."Eigg is one of a collection of islands in the Scottish #InnerHebrides called the #SmallIsles. It lies 15 miles from the mainland and is reliant on a ferry that runs a few times a week, weather dependent, for supplies and transport. As such, waste isn't an option here and sustainability is a necessity.
" ' #Sustainability has always been a part of island and crofting life here,' explained Norah Barnes, Scottish Wildlife Trust ranger on Eigg. 'You're a bit more aware of what you're using. You can't just go to a shop down the road to get something. Everything that we want, we literally have to lift off the boat.'
"Combined, the Small Isles of Eigg, #Canna, #Sanday, #Rùm and #Muck have a population of just 150-200 people. Measuring five miles by three, Eigg is the second largest in size but by far the most populous with around 110 residents, and this has helped to foster a community that has collectively been able to take charge of the future of the island."
#SolarPunkSunday #SolarPunk #SelfReliance #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy #Renewables #RenewablesNow #Reforestation #OffGrid #IslandLiving #EcoConsciousLiving
-
And certainly a wise man never loses anything if he has himself.
[Certes l’homme d’entendement n’a rien perdu, s’il a soy-mesme.]Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 1, ch. 38 (1.38)), “Of Solitude [De la solitude]” (1572) [tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877)]More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/montaigne-michel-de/…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #montaigne #micheldemontaigne #loss #possessions #selfaffirmation #selfassurance #selfawareness #selfesteem #selfpossession #selfregard #selfreliance #selfrespect #selfsufficiency #understanding #wisdom #integrity #importance #value
-
DATE: August 9, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: How specific masculine ideals are linked to anxiety and depression in men
URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-specific-masculine-ideals-are-linked-to-anxiety-and-depression-in-men/
The relationship between traditional masculine ideals and men’s mental health is highly complex, according to new research. While some societal expectations about how men should behave are neutral or even protective, a recent survey reveals that specific norms—namely emotional suppression and extreme self-reliance—are uniquely linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression. The study helps explain the psychological mechanisms behind this, showing that these specific ideals are connected to difficulties in processing and managing emotions. The findings were published in the journal Sex Roles.
Researchers have observed that men are less likely to seek professional psychological help and more likely to drop out of therapy than women. Men also face high rates of internalizing symptoms. Internalizing symptoms refer to mental health conditions where individuals direct psychological distress inward, rather than acting it out aggressively, with common examples including depression and anxiety disorders.
Lead author Vincent O. Mancini, a researcher affiliated with The Kids Research Institute Australia, the University of Western Australia, and Curtin University, along with a team of international psychologists, set out to map the psychological pathways connecting cultural expectations to these internalizing symptoms.
Importantly, the researchers approached masculinity not as a single, homogenous construct, but as a multidimensional set of norms. In many industrialized Western countries, these traditional ideals range from a drive for social status and risk-taking, to stoicism and a reluctance to show vulnerability. The study aimed to identify exactly which of these specific expectations are harmful, which are neutral, and which might even be protective.
To understand the connection between these cultural expectations and mental health, the researchers looked at two specific psychological concepts: alexithymia and emotion regulation.
Alexithymia describes a personality trait characterized by a severe difficulty in identifying and describing one’s own emotions. People with high levels of alexithymia tend to focus their attention outward rather than analyzing their internal feelings. Emotion regulation, on the other hand, is the ability to monitor, evaluate, and modify emotional reactions to achieve a desired state or goal.
The researchers hypothesized that certain cultural expectations teach boys to suppress vulnerability from a very young age. When children are repeatedly encouraged to hide sadness or fear to appear strong, they lose opportunities to practice identifying and processing those feelings. Over time, this lack of practice can develop into alexithymia in adulthood.
To test this framework, the researchers recruited 740 men from the United States and the United Kingdom to complete an extensive online survey. The participants ranged in age from 22 to 80 years old, with diverse educational and employment backgrounds.
The survey included several questionnaires designed to measure different aspects of the participants’ psychological profiles. One questionnaire assessed the degree to which each participant conformed to ten distinct traditional masculine norms. These dimensions included traits like risk-taking, the desire to win, the pursuit of status, self-reliance, prioritizing work above all else, and maintaining strict emotional control.
Additional questionnaires measured the participants’ levels of alexithymia and their ability to regulate their emotions. Finally, the survey evaluated the presence and severity of internalizing symptoms, specifically screening for signs of depression, anxiety, and stress.
The statistical analysis revealed that the relationship between masculine norms and mental health varies heavily depending on the specific type of norm. Four specific masculine ideals were strongly and positively associated with higher levels of alexithymia: the prioritization of work, the drive to remain entirely self-reliant, the desire to win, and the emphasis on emotional control.
Men who reported higher adherence to these norms were more likely to struggle with recognizing and labeling their own feelings. The researchers suggested that burying oneself in work or refusing to ask for help might reinforce a habit of ignoring internal emotional states.
However, other traditional masculine norms did not show this harmful association, and some even appeared beneficial. For example, men who strongly endorsed the “pursuit of status” actually exhibited lower levels of alexithymia and reduced internalizing symptoms. Norms related to risk-taking and heterosexual self-presentation showed no negative association with emotional processing.
For those who did experience high levels of alexithymia, the study found a strong cascading effect. Because these men struggled to accurately appraise what they were feeling, they were less equipped to manage those feelings effectively. This inability to regulate emotional responses was, in turn, strongly associated with elevated anxiety and depression.
By connecting these variables, the researchers mapped a sequential psychological pathway: The pressure to conform to ideals of extreme self-reliance and emotional suppression is linked to an inability to identify personal emotions. This emotional blindness limits the ability to manage psychological distress, which ultimately corresponds to a higher likelihood of experiencing internalizing symptoms.
The data also revealed other associations that operated independently of alexithymia. For instance, the researchers suggested that the “playboy” norm—seeking multiple short-term sexual partners—might be linked to emotion regulation difficulties because it serves as an impulsive, reward-seeking strategy to cope with distress, rather than stemming from an inability to identify emotions.
The authors also noted that emotional control has a highly complicated, dual relationship with mental health. Attempting to restrict or conceal emotions can sometimes provide a successful short-term reduction in distress. However, this immediate protective benefit is ultimately canceled out if it leads to alexithymia over time, which impairs the deeper emotional regulation required for lasting mental health.
Because masculinity is multifaceted, the authors warn against treating it as a single, harmful category, noting that this oversimplification risks perpetuating unhelpful stereotypes about men.
Instead, these findings offer targeted guidance for mental health professionals and educators. The researchers noted that failing to address fundamental difficulties in identifying emotions early in therapy could reduce the effectiveness of traditional psychological treatments. Interventions that first help men build an emotional vocabulary—without pathologizing masculinity as a whole—might prove highly beneficial. Additionally, the authors suggest that school programs focusing on emotion labeling could help boys develop healthier emotional functioning long before they reach adulthood.
While the statistical models map out a sequential pathway, the study relies on cross-sectional survey data. A cross-sectional design captures information at a single point in time, meaning the researchers cannot definitively prove the direction of causality. It is possible that individuals already experiencing high levels of anxiety and depression might report their adherence to masculine norms differently than they would otherwise.
The study also relies entirely on self-reported questionnaires. Future studies could incorporate clinical evaluations or reports from family members to provide a more comprehensive picture. Additionally, research across a wider variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds is needed to see if these psychological patterns hold true outside of Western, industrialized nations like the U.S. and the U.K.
The study, “Internalizing Symptoms in Men: The Role of Masculine Norms, Alexithymia, and Emotion Regulation,” was authored by Vincent O. Mancini, Julia Ditzer, Jack D. Brett, James J. Gross, and David A. Preece.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-specific-masculine-ideals-are-linked-to-anxiety-and-depression-in-men/
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #MasculineNorms #MentalHealthInMen #Alexithymia #EmotionRegulation #MenAndDepression #AnxietyInMen #EmotionalSuppression #SelfReliance #MasculinityResearch #SexRolesStudy
-
Stay Safe Off the Grid with the Ultimate Anti-Looter Kit by Jason Hanson🔐
Take a closer look at the full review:
https://djtropica.wixsite.com/offgridliving/post/anti-looter-kit-reviewThis post explores how the anti looter kit stands out as a reliable, portable, and off-grid home security package.
#homesecurity #homesecuritysystem #securitysystem #homesecuritysystems #survival #offgridliving #offgrid #selfreliance #selfsufficient #sustainability #selfsufficientliving #survivalliving
-
Stop buying your way to safety. Disaster preparedness is not a shopping list; it’s an architecture of skill and grit you must build yourself. Real survival starts when the grid goes dark and the gear breaks. Are you ready? 🛠️🔥 #Survival #Preparedness #SelfReliance
-
A quotation from Theodore Roosevelt
[… T]he individual virtues, and the necessity of character as the chief factor in any man’s success — a teaching in which I now believe as sincerely as ever, for all the laws that the wit of man can devise will never make a man a worthy citizen unless he has within himself the right stuff, unless he has self-reliance, energy, courage, the power of insisting on his own rights and the sympathy that makes him regardful of the rights of others.
Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer, US President (1901–1909)
Autobiography, ch. 1 “Boyhood and Youth” (1913)More about this quote: wist.info/roosevelt-theodore/8…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #theodoreroosevelt #teddyroosevelt #character #citizen #courage #individuality #moralcode #personalcode #personalresponsibility #rights #selfreliance #success #virtue #worthiness
-
It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who, in the midst of the crowd, keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
Essay (1841), “Self-Reliance,” Essays: First Series, No. 2More about this quote: wist.info/emerson-ralph-waldo/…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #emerson #ralphwaldoemerson #selfreliance #belief #conformity #custom #greatness #independence #integrity #nonconformity #opinion #popularopinion #publicopinion #society #solitude #tradition #unswaying
-
David's Shield Blast-Proof Survival Book Review. The Ultimate Guide to Survival⚡
Take a closer look at the full review:
https://usefularticles.livejournal.com/4916.htmlDavid's Shield: The Ultimate Blast-Proof Survival Guide promises to equip readers with essential techniques, survival strategies, and practical advice for a variety of emergency situations.
#survival #offgridliving #offgrid #selfreliance #selfsufficient #sustainability #selfsufficientbook #selfsufficientliving #survivalliving #survivalbooks
-
Former #ForeignMinister @EdnaAdan argues that #Somaliland’s #Sovereignty cannot be bought or negotiated away, saying the country’s #Independence is built on decades of #Peace, #Democracy, & #SelfReliance. #HornOfAfrica
https://saxafimedia.com/somaliland-sovereignty-not-for-sale-edna/
-
Some of the words you’ll find within yourself,
the rest some power will inspire you to say.
You least of all — I know —
were born and reared without the gods’ good will.
[τὸν δ᾽ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη:
‘Τηλέμαχ᾽, ἄλλα μὲν αὐτὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶ σῇσι νοήσεις,
ἄλλα δὲ καὶ δαίμων ὑποθήσεται: οὐ γὰρ ὀίω
οὔ σε θεῶν ἀέκητι γενέσθαι τε τραφέμεν τε.’]Homer (fl. 7th-8th C. BC) Greek author
The Odyssey [Ὀδύσσεια], Book 3, l. 25ff (3.25) [Athena to Telemachus] (c. 700 BC) [tr. Fagles (1996)]More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/homer/46674/
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #homer #odyssey #theodyssey #confidence #divinefavor #divineinspiration #inspiration #selfconfidence #selfreliance #wit
-
A Guide for Living an Off-Grid, Self-Sufficient Lifestyle🌲
https://djtropica.wixsite.com/offgridliving
Come today to discover moreOff-grid living is a blog offering real-life insights, must-read books, and practical guidance for embracing a truly self-sufficient lifestyle
#offgridliving #offgrid #selfreliance #selfsufficient #survival #sustainability #selfsufficientbook #selfsufficiency #selfsufficientliving #survivalliving #gardening #selfsufficienthomestead
-
Mastering Off-Grid Living with few Essential Books and Proven Systems for Self-Sufficiency🌿🍃🍀
Take a closer look at the full review:
https://djtropica.wixsite.com/offgridliving/post/mastering-off-grid-living-with-essential-books-and-proven-systems-for-self-sufficiencyThis post explores practical off grid living ideas and shares valuable resources, including self sufficient living books.
#offgridliving #offgrid #selfreliance #selfsufficient #survival #sustainability #selfsufficientbook #selfsufficiency #selfsufficientliving #survivalliving #gardening #selfsufficienthomestead #becomeselfsufficient
-
The Longings of Women: A Novel
"An "extraordinary" novel of the intertwined lives of three troubled women"
Sale: $25.99 to $1.99
by Marge Piercy
Rating: 4.3/5 (654 Reviews)
#womensfiction #contemporary #literature #fiction #books #booksky #women #friendship #marriage #selfreliance
The Longings of Women: A Novel