Comments on: Giving up the struggle: stories of ants and cats and hair products gone awry

By: elbales

elbales — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:58:00 +0000

Oh, this is wonderful and beautifully profound.

I just found your blog a few days ago and have been working my way through it from the beginning. It’s making Teh Sick a little less onerous, I can tell you. :) Thank you so much for everything you’re doing here.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:15:00 +0000

I've just started reading your blog and really like the concept.

One concern that I have tho is that you said the ants 'cant hurt anything' under the sink. I'm not so sure about this, because enough of an ant infestation can seriously damage a house. You may not think about it at first, but if they are in the walls and everywhere, they will eat through the building materials.

But I don't have any real solutions, its not like with a grasshopper in your house where you can pick it up and put it outside.

By: Shannon Hodgins

Shannon Hodgins — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 04:04:00 +0000

Lovely and thoughtful post. Shannon

By: Bianca in Brooklyn

Bianca in Brooklyn — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 07:51:00 +0000

Dear Anon, Buddhism takes into account the realization that suffering is part of life and is all around us. The idea is to reduce suffering as much as we can. The individual must begin with themselves in order to eventually be able to help reduce the suffering of others.
I did find the story of the buffalo in a Native American tale somewhat heartening, but in that story the buffalo knows that in order for the suffering of the others to be reduced he must sacrifice himself. Pests and vermin are not hanging out in my space in order to sacrifice themselves. Simply, they are looking to survive. Even knowing this I still get very frustrated with the elusive cockroaches who’ve set up shop in my kitchen.
Killing the pests can be enjoyable in the instant moment when I’m grossed out and frustrated but soon after I feel guilty for killing an innocent being that was not directly causing me any harm (the mental anguish is my own fault, not that of the cockroach) and guilty for not being in total roach control. Then there is the realization that killing them one by one is a fruitless endeavor because it’s not getting to the root of the problem. If you don’t remove the root of the weed, it’s going to grow back every time you cut the part that you see. And in the case with Beth’s ants it doesn’t seem like there is a root so much as a natural part of where she lives. But it is important to evaluate the situation and come to understand the nature of the issue and then move on from there, keeping reality close in view.
Just before I read this post I was doing clean up combat and feeling really frustrated. But I feel a bit relieved now. Thanks Beth.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:03:00 +0000

Wonderful, thoughtful post. Just found you thru Best Green Blogs.

Try Aubrey brand hair products - all natural and made in Tampa Fl.

Bellen

By: joaquin

joaquin — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:15:00 +0000

Hi,
Great post! I just getting into this topic, and finding great stuff. I am makeing an ecolifestyle group in cocomment.com , would be great if we canall meet and join ideas.
Tks
joaquin

By: Cathy Mullins

Cathy Mullins — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 16:16:00 +0000

What wonderful and insightful musings. Thank you. I’m newly inspired and of course, it’s always a blessing to read such heartfelt words. Again, thank you.

By: Gracie

Gracie — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:43:00 +0000

Beth, I can’t thank you enough for this post!! I have been fussing with a member of my family these past two weeks over a contemplated purchase. It’s created a lot of tension in our home. Today, I will focus on how I can accept and work with what is, rather than how I would like it to be. We don’t appreciate you nearly enough!

By: Fake Plastic Fish

Fake Plastic Fish — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 05:31:00 +0000

Anonymous, I agree that we have to kill every day. And I have not stopped killing ants. However, I would like to minimize the killing as much as possible, and I would rather not kill them if I don't have to. The few ants that do make their way up to the countertop get wiped away. But the fact is that with the sugar luring them down below, far fewer ants must be killed.

"I kind of like the attitude of some Native American tribes, thanking a creature for giving up its life for the benefit of the person about to kill it."

But killing ants unnecessarily doesn't benefit me. It strikes me as no different from sport fishing or hunting.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 04:45:00 +0000

Last week I gave my ants an apple core which they worked on with such gusto that after 2 days I put it on a plate with another core, and a few days later they got another core. Instead of spreading out, they are focused on the plate of cores. When I'm out of the kitchen, there's a thick black line of ants leading to and from the cores, which get smaller every day. When I come into the kitchen and start working at the counter, they scram. They're interesting to watch and I think I'm going to miss them when they're gone.

Try washing your hair with bath soap. It adds a lot of body and if you're lucky, afterwards you won't need to use any hair tamers or stiffeners or whatever.

Axelle F.

PS Soots & Arya think they can stop dancing on your faces but they are so wrong. They will only be able to stop once they're about 2 years old.