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Don’t expect me to do things before coffee. I’m not exactly a morning person, and I’d like to at least wake up fully before tackling the day or having a conversation. But every morning after coffee, I save the world.
I don’t wear a superhero costume. What I do doesn’t require Batman’s wealth or Wonder Woman’s power. News crews won’t show up to broadcast my accomplishments as breaking news. I won’t receive an award or the key to the city. But it’s saving the world just the same.
I believe that every single person can make an enormous difference. We make that difference either through our active choices or our inactive indifference, but we have an impact all the same. Even our smallest actions can create significant change, but so often, we dismiss the power of what little we can do.
I’m choosing to save the planet.
How I do this may not seem extraordinary to you. I’m not trying to be extraordinary. In fact, I’m hoping for a cultural shift in which what I do is the bare minimum. First of all, I truly believe in the philosophy of reduce, reuse, and recycle. I’ve been evaluating what my small household can do as a single parent of two, and there are actually quite a few things we do that have an environmental impact.
Here are just a few:
We recycle everything that’s possible to recycle.
Most packaging that comes into a household is actually recyclable. It’s not just canned goods and cardboard boxes. Milk cartons, glass jars, and so many other items contain the recycling symbol. In my house, we have more recycling that goes out each week than trash.
We compost when we can.
I don’t know much about composting, but I don’t toss eggshells, coffee grounds, or banana peels in the trash. I compost that for a tiny garden I keep.
We choose earth-friendly labels.
Eco-friendly. Non-toxic. Sustainable. Vegan. Cruelty-free. Fair trade. Organic. These labels have meaning. I’ve been trying to be a more environmentally conscious consumer, choosing products that are ethically sourced and non-toxic. It sometimes costs more, but it matters.
We think about sustainability.
I started getting the Mighty Nest Mighty Fix box for $10/month. Each month, it sends me an item that will help me have a more sustainable home. I have reusable sandwich and snack bags, stainless steel straws, and dryer balls to start. Each month, I’ll get something that will help me reduce waste and be more conscious of my personal environmental impact.
We do our part.
When walking, I often pick up litter. I didn’t leave it, but this is my community. I care about it. I pick it up because the responsibility for caring this planet is a shared one, and even if I didn’t make the mess, I have to live on this Earth, too. I’d like for it to be a cleaner planet.
We buy local.
It’s important to support local businesses, and this also has a great environmental impact. This can include shopping local farmers markets or participating in co-ops. It can even mean participating in agri-tourism by attending local events or taking advertised tours.
We plant a garden.
This year, sadly, I wasn’t able, but last year we planted a small garden in our small space. Growing our own food can be a great way to be eco-friendly while also providing us with organic, fresh produce. If we don’t have space for a garden, we can look into starting a community garden or participating in one that’s already established.
We walk.
This is an easy one in a community like mine but might be less so in others. We walk everywhere we can, choosing to skip using the car (and its harmful emissions) when possible. Biking is also a great option for those who’d prefer that to walking.
We think in terms of conservation.
We turn out lights, unplug appliances, and are careful with the water we use. We consider conservation in what we do.
I vote.
I’m paying attention to the politicians who represent my interests or don’t. I’m not just talking the talk; I’m voting the vote. I’m not going to endorse candidates whose policies are detrimental to the environment. I pay attention, regularly contact my representatives, and stay involved. It matters. They have to keep tallies of the calls, and we should all participate to make sure that they actually vote in a way that represents us.
It’s a family effort.
When I say “we,” it’s not the royal we. I mean that my children also know which items are recyclable and which are not. They’ll also pick up garbage to throw away when we see it. Being conscious of how we live is an important value for us, and I hope I can raise them to have a positive impact on the environment.
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I have a vision for a world in which we’re all trying to keep up with the Joneses, and the Joneses are the most eco-friendly family on the planet. I want us to try to put out more recycling than our neighbors while sipping our fair trade organic coffee and wearing sustainably-made clothing. I want us to compare our cars based on eco-friendly factors rather than price tags and flash. I’d love a world that cared so much about protecting the planet that we leave it for the next generation better than we found it.
It’s a pretty dream, one with a lot of scenic views. Think of the possibilities: rooftop gardens, community gardens, and clean energy. It’s a world where we care about how our food is grown and what goes into it, and we try really hard to support local agriculture. In this world, we’re healthier, and there’s more food to go around. We’re working together for a better future but also for a better present.
You say it’s a pipe dream. I say it’s possible. But it’s only possible if I do it, even if I am the only one to start. It becomes possible when you decide to start, too, and you encourage someone else to do the same. It begins then with each person who decides that they can’t do everything, but they can do what they can. It’s evaluating our priorities and deciding where we’ll get started, and we don’t have to limit it to one area. We can protect the environment and human rights at the same time. It’s all in a day’s work, and the only limits on what is possible are often the ones we put on ourselves. Isn’t there a quote out there that says if we can conceive it and believe it, we can achieve it? That’s the power of one person in this world.
So drink your coffee. Then go out and save the world.
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This post was originally published on medium.com, and is republished here with the author’s permission.
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Photo credit: Jake Young on Unsplash