Some people are born to walk the talk.

LA's Danielle Davis runs an eco/conscious living blog called Less Is More (Balanced) and writes for Your Daily Thread as the city guide's Tuesday/Green Living contributor. She has a background in teaching english and recently added a Master's of Literature and Creative Writing to her bag of tricks, and we thought we'd share what balance looks like in her life.

"One of the rich staples of my week is eating tortillas my husband and I make from scratch with flour from a local bulk bin; it's a couple of hours on Sunday spent mixing and rolling and flipping."

But Danielle doesn't stop there. Where most of us might call it a good day for the environment if we recycle and shop with cloth bags, she goes all in. She gets immense pleasure from "snipping parsley from my garden, having a crisper bin full of locally grown veggies, packing a zero-waste picnic, walking on an errand, scouring the racks at a thrift store for a funky, well-made coat, and making space to do the things I feel passionate about." She adds that, "Sure, I have to get to the farmer's market every Saturday, water the plants, fill my water bottle, pack my lunch, wash my clothes after purchasing them, get a good pair of walking shoes, and organize my time, but I don't feel the pinch when that means forfeiting shrink-wrap, plastic throw-aways, unfairly traded goods, weary produce, gas and traffic, or frazzled nerves."

Balancing Two Labors of Love

"With Less Is More (Balanced) and Your Daily Thread I’m writing about the simple, green living world, creating a place for people who want harmony in their lives and with the environment, sharing how to let go of certain things to get more alignment and connection. And I have a book proposal to that end.

"My other world is literary and I have a novella and several picture books I care about and intend to see out there in less than five years. Yes, I am dreaming the impossible dream of making a living as a writer. Both my green living work and my literary writing are labors of love."

Walking the talk a bit more, Danielle practices qi gong every morning, walks, does Pilates, makes time for friends, watches indie films and butterflies, spends time in nature, cultivates gratefulness, and has a mutually supportive relationship with her husband.

"And I take breaks. Honestly, I need plenty of down/reflective time. You’ll catch me sipping chamomile tea and reading outside many an afternoon."

According to Danielle, what trips her up and challenges this ideal picture is, "Hands down, failing to strike a balance between giving and getting, and applying my less is more philosophy to all facets of my existence. In fact, one of my declarations from doing the Craving Balance Workbook was about this. Like so many women, my tendency is to give out when I’m already tapped.

When I conserve some energy for my own wellbeing, I am full and I have my very best to offer others rather than drawing from a well that has already run dry."

Danielle believes that personal responsibility and "cultivating perseverance, patience, and the belief there’s room at the table for everyone’s contribution—mine included—" is essential to staying committed and accomplishing her goals.

"Almost every job I’ve had has sucked my marrow to some extent. But it’s not the job, it’s me. I’m really tuned into what is feeding or draining me, but I’ve been a slow learner at giving up the draining things and letting myself do what I want and need (that give/take equity again). Over the last couple of years I’ve peeled away commitments that miss the mark little by little. Now I’m usually doing what I really want and what fits in with what I have to contribute to the world. It’s an uncertain journey, going against the old voices in my head telling me to suck it up even if I’m miserable, but I think it’s worth it."

Danielle sums up her philosophy by quoting Natalie Goldberg from Writing Down the Bones:

“Trust in what you love, continue to do it, and it will take you where you want to go. And don’t worry too much about security. You will eventually have a deep security when you begin to do what you want.”

Nice. A very nice life, indeed.

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