Walking the Walk
When Covid hit, Mama Earth got a little bit of a breather. With cars off the streets, planes mostly grounded and beaches empty the Earth had some time to begin to heal. With everyone going back into the world, we are responsible for continuing to aid in her healing instead of going back to normal because as with everything going on in society lately, normal wasn’t working.
I’ve been complacent and comfortable lately which has led to me not paying enough attention to what and how I am consuming. Sometimes I need a reminder to walk the walk instead of just talk the talk about positively impacting the planet. Single use waste is increasing with the use of disposable masks and many establishments not allowing customers to bring their own bags, cups and other reusables. It’s understandable, it just means we have to be conscious in other areas of our life.
I’m focusing on preventing my own impulse purchases.
Instead, I’m trying to research and find new brands and companies who produce what I’m looking for in a slow fashion, sustainable way even if it means spending a couple extra bucks instead making the rash decision to buy the cheap alternative that is made to fall apart. This also helps me take a moment to think on things and decide if it’s something that I really want/ need or if it’s just something that seems shiny and interesting for the moment.
I’m transitioning to products that are natural.
Instead of repurchasing what I already have, I’m looking at ingredients and finding better alternatives to purchase instead. A huge area that I’m doing this is in the sunscreen department. I’m diving deep into the world of reef safe sunscreens because as a water lover it feels wrong not to! (Stay tuned, there’s a big reef safe sunscreen review and roundup coming to the blog soon! Subscribe here so you don’t miss it!)
Okay, but what is there to do besides focus on the things you are purchasing and voting with your dollar?
There’s a whole movement around intersectional environmentalism that’s been sparked by the Black Lives Matter Movement and it’s worth checking out!
Intersectional Environmentalism is the idea of protecting both the earth and its people- that means focusing on how Black communities and Communities of Color and lower incomes are affected by climate crisis more than White communities. Here’s a great podcast to get your started! Also, check out the Intersectional Environmentalist website for tons of resources and things to read regarding the way climate change is affecting different communities!
Remember my impact.
My travels have been some of the biggest eye openers to me about why we really need change. Even here at home, my favorite beach, one that is acclaimed as a “Blue Wave Beach,” is becoming increasingly littered with fragments of broken plastic. These can feel like big picture reminders, ones that make you feel almost helpless with the amount of work there is to do. I think it’s important to remember though that just as each little piece of plastic on a beach contributes to it’s contamination, each one of us contribute to our planets environment. Unlike the plastics, we have a choice. We get to decide if our contribution is helpful or harmful. I choose to be helpful. Even small wins help make me want to continue to advocate for what I love. I’m happy knowing that my dad uses a HydroFlask instead of reaching for a plastic bottle of water every time and I love knowing that we don’t have plastic water bottles in our house anymore. Those may seem small, but in reality it means that the 4 people in our household and any others who come into our home are even just a tad less wasteful.