Earth Day Confession
Monday was Earth Day. It was a day we’re supposed to care for our planet though I really believe every day is a day to do that. On Monday, there were many articles in my inbox calling for actions to save the planet. One of the articles that caught my eyes was from National Geographic about plastic waste from grocery stores. It has been a major concern I’ve had for a long time.
Here’s my confession. While I am seriously concerned about the plastic pollution around the world, I keep catching myself consume those single-use plastic items — mostly around food. Even though I long for a lifestyle that I can go to the farmers market with my reusable bags and buy only the veggies and fruits I would eat for the following few days, I usually end up going to Trader Joe’s for grocery to last me for at least the coming week. This inevitably means I’m buying packaged items such as bagged salad. Besides not only does fresh produce often come in plastic packages, but also most other items come in plastic. Every time I open one of them whether it’s a bag of spinach, loaf of bread, or even a bar of soap, I have a tinge of guilt in my heart as I throw them in the trash or recycling bin.
Especially, now that I am about to launch a whole new marketing campaign as a green realtor, I want to exemplify how to live a “green living.” Unfortunately, my green lifestyle is far from perfect. The truth is we all live in a world of consumerism, and convenience is virtue. It takes a hell of an effort to live a zero-waste life although there are plenty of people who are practicing it. This is where mindful self-compassion kicks in, though, we’re all doing the best we can to do our part to make this planet a better place for our kids and grandkids. As long as we keep our attitude and intention of being conscious of our daily activities, that certainly counts. And with our intention, we’ll be able to do one more thing to help the planet today no matter how small it is. So today, let’s do one thing. Turn off the light or an appliance when not necessary. Don’t use a single-use plastic item just for one day. Be mindful when printing something out. I commit to not using plastic bags. How about you?
Here’s a quote that inspired me this week:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
Theodore Roosevelt