On top of that, the pressure to reduce my carbon footprint with
each action of the day is just too much for me lately. The truth is
that I’m tired of feeling guilty about what I’m not doing.
So today, I’m going to give myself a little pat on the back for the
things that I am doing to try to make a difference – no
matter how pitifully small they may seem to those who do so much
more than me.
1. I use a stainless water bottle instead of plastic bottles (most
of the time).
2. I pack my daughter’s lunches and snacks with reusable containers
(I confess that there is the occasional plastic sandwich bag, but
the guilt I have over potentially killing a sea turtle who might
one day mistake it for a jellyfish when I do, is surely payment
enough for the random offense.)
3. I have a home that is filled with more vintage and antique
furniture than new. I’ve done my part to reduce the demand for
newly manufactured goods and I’ve got pieces that are timeless, so
there won’t be a need to replace them (also great for the
pocketbook).
4. Same on jewelry. I love it – let’s face it - we all love it. But
I can honestly say I have way more vintage jewelry than I do new
stuff.
5. When I’m hand washing dishes I turn the water off when I’m
soaping up, and I turn off the water when I’m brushing my teeth (my
girls make sure of that).
6. I use a dishtowel or sponge instead of paper towels as much as
possible.
7. I recycle everything that I can. Turns out 90% of what we throw
out in our home can go in the blue bin.
8. I have made an attempt to raise my own herbs. Truthfully, I have
the brownest thumb on the planet and have yet to raise anything I
can use, but hey – I’m trying.
9. I take long walks and runs by the water and down paths I’ve
never been, all which make me appreciate this glorious place we
call home more (and I save the energy I would have spent on the
treadmill).
10. I buy organic produce and try to buy local (especially from the
guy selling strawberries near my place, God bless him - he’s
working his tail off to make a buck.)
11. Oh, and I started Change Starts at Home, to
try to help other people find simple things they can do to make the
world a better place. Turns out, it is a daily gift I am giving
myself.
So, enough guilt! We should all just do our best and then when we fall short, do better tomorrow. One really simple thing we can all do is to share with each other the simple steps we are taking in our lives. We will all learn from each other, and eventually, we’ll get there.
