Make this World a better Place!
What did you do today to make this world a better place? And I am not talking about being kind to other people. Of course that is important, too. What I am talking about here is literally: How did you make this WORLD a better place today?
I went shopping. And I actively saved two plastic containers, four plastic bags, one paper receipt and two paper bags. All in just one day, just a few hours of shopping, in very simple ways. I also saved six plastic water bottles, two straws, one paper napkin, about one gallon of water and ten pieces of paper towel today. And I passed on my commitment to making this world a better place to five people. I could have saved four more plastic bags had I planned ahead, but here I am practicing my awareness and each day I am getting more mindful of my environment and I am becoming better at saving plastic, paper, water, …garbage… anything that will end up on a landfill or in our water or soil and harm all kinds of different animals, from small birds to big whales. How did I do that? In very simple ways:
I got a plastic bag at the first store I shopped at and I kept putting the next items I bought into the same bag
I bought my lunch at a salad bar at Whole Foods Market using the cardboard boxes instead of the plastic containers
I skipped the plastic bags that are provided for produce and I put lemons, apples and bell pepper loose in my shopping cart and then in the paper bag I received at check-out
I asked for my receipt to be emailed rather than printed at the cashiers
I asked for no straw at the restaurant (now that I am writing this, I am going to put my glass straw in my purse!)
I told the cashier and waitress why I don’t want their plastic bags and paper receipts, I passed on my goal and commitment to reduce garbage. Hoping that they will become aware themselves which would be awesome! I hope I sparked the fire!
Try to get a mindset where you look at everything you use and touch and think if you can save it or reuse it or use less of it or at least recycle it. In July 2018 I overheard a woman saying that she didn’t know you get money back if you take certain beverage cans and bottles back to your grocery store’s recycling center. My jaw dropped! I have been doing this for years and this lady didn’t know about it until just recently?!?
I would encourage you to google the internet how trash affects our environment, how straws, plastic bags, plastic rings from milk jugs etc. have an absolutely horrible effect on our wildlife. Please go for it, open your eyes and wake up! Become aware of what is happening, maybe not right in front of your door but sooner or later it WILL affect you. You will be shocked when you see birds feeding their youngsters plastic items or when you see dead stranded whales and their stomachs are full of plastic bags and other garbage or how turtles have straws stuck in their nostrils… I feel so bad! Looking at the news and researching the internet, it appears we are finally waking up. There seems to be more awareness of how trash affects our world, our animals and ultimately us. We may not be able to get rid of garbage but the least each of us can do is REDUCE it! And, if you are throwing anything away that has the shape of a ring, CUT IT! That way at least it can’t get stuck around an animals snout and prevent it from eating so that the poor thing will have to starve to death. Also, next time I am going for a walk, I will bring a bag and collect all the trash I see along the way and then throw it in the dumpster at my house. Yes, I will use a plastic bag that I already have at home but I feel that I am doing a good thing by putting that plastic bag to good use when picking up other people’s trash. I wish more people were aware of how trash affects our environment and how much we CAN DO to help!
I hope that I was able to inspire you to be more aware and to support MAKING THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE!