"All you really need is passion, patience and the ability to work hard without giving up."~Jessica Reeder
Jessica Reeder believes that it's possible to make something out of nothing. In 2008 she gave it all up, a job in San Francisco, her car, money, and most of her possessions to lead a more sustainable life. With only a backpack, she traveled around the country volunteering on farms and working on green building sites. She discovered that living a full life doesn't require a life full of stuff.
She started the blog UpRooted, a sustainable travel project about her two-year journey around the U.S. to promote the dual practices of sustainability and volunteerism. It's an example of ecologically aware and environmentally viable travel on a very low budget. Along the way she learned some incredible life-altering lessons.
Following her travels when Jessica settled in Reno, Nevada rather than blog about eco adventures she created Love and Trash a "Do It Yourself" site that would help people live more sustainably and live better on less in their community.
Jessica will partner with Amber Clisura founder of the NO PANTS 2011 project to lead the workshop, "Upcycle Your Life" in the "Green Living" track at the 2nd Annual Passion Into Action Conference.
Workshop Description:
"Upcycling" takes something seemingly useless, and makes it new and better. That's what we each did: we started from dirt poor rock bottom, and created successful social media campaigns out of passion and elbow grease. If you're ready for change in your own life, you don't need money and connections; you just need to be inspired, and willing to make things happen for yourself. We'll give you some of the tricks we're learning, and tell you what it's like to be in the middle of a homespun, independent endeavor. We'll tell you our war stories, and some surprising things we learned about being a woman in the land of social media.
Jessica shares the inspiration behind her lifestyle shift, how women are affecting the future and the importance of discovering and following your passion.
What is your personal mission or passion that is helping to re-shape the future?
I care deeply about the environment, and about living sustainably. For me, that means building my life from the ground up, according to my values. I strive to be conscious of my actions without letting that stop me from living my life. That’s really the point for me: living responsibly while still living life to the fullest. I’m learning how to do it, and trying to share what I learn with everybody who’ll listen.
Describe a significant moment or experience that inspired your personal mission or passion to make a difference?
In 2006, I turned down a great job offer with a luxury company that would’ve paid me well. I thought about it for days, but in my heart I knew I didn’t want the job. It didn’t suit me.
That was the beginning of a series of changes. It was the first time I realized that I would have to design my own life and career to match my beliefs. Even though it would probably take years of struggle, I had to try or I wouldn’t be happy.
After that, changes happened more quickly. I got rid of my car, then most of my possessions. I started learning to make things myself, mostly by volunteering but also through plain old trial and error. In 2008 and 2009 I backpacked around the country writing about sustainable living while I worked on farms and green building sites. Now I’m not afraid to take risks, to be poor and happy, to enjoy life against the odds. And I have a lot more life skills too!
What do you hope will be the biggest take-aways for the attendees who participate in your workshop?
That you don’t really need any resources, connections or experience to change your life. All you really need is passion, patience and the ability to work hard without giving up.
How do you see women and girls in the local and global communities affecting the future?
I do believe that women are coming into their own, and that within a few generations the improvements in global women’s health and education (as well as broader access to information and communication tools) will bring us to a critical mass. At some point, sisters are gonna get their own. What happens then, I don’t claim to know -- but I doubt it’ll look like the angry revolution our mothers and grandmothers expected.
Why is it so important to participate in groups and events that connect women and feature their talents, ideas and solutions right now?
I struggle with this one. On one hand, I’d love to be invited to the boys’ club — and in many cases, the doors are beginning to open. On the other hand, the experience of working with women is so positive and inspiring that I’m quite simply drawn to women-friendly events. Maybe that’s all it is: connecting and motivating each other by sharing our experiences. Or maybe it’s a nonviolent, non-oppositional activism that practices more than it preaches. Either way, I love learning from other women’s example and I’m sure lots of girls out there feel the same.
What is your message to women around the world?
Enjoy your life. Figure out what will make you happy and what you’re willing to do to get it. Find your passion and follow it, whatever it is, and try not to compare yourself with impossible standards. You really don’t need (and probably don’t even want) to be rich, thin, a mother and a wife and a business executive with perfect skin. So relax and do what you love!
To participate in Jessica's workshop click here to register for
Passion Into Action.
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