Member-only story
Practical vs. Materialist
Part 3 of 3 explores ideas how to begin downsizing, join the movement.
Tired and worn out by the loudness of environmental zealots. They are righteous and loud. They are also well meaning. They are enlightened. A smart trend is emerging in media. Small changes we can employ to be 1% better earth stewards today. Tomorrow repeat. In two weeks, it is a solid habit. Stack another “one thing”. Repeat. A year or two in your (near) future, you are a double-digit improvement in reducing your carbon footprint. And it didn’t hurt.
How do we build a better environmental practice? There is no one way. It is personal. Think on it. Pen and paper if it helps. Write, doodle, make a list. It could by some be considered a stall tactic. Oh great, Susie is writing her aspirations down again, when is she going to do something about it? Says agitated Sage the super woman eco-warrior (her real name is Charlene). Dionysus (his real name is Douglas) is a real charmer. He audibly half-mocking gasps when you actually remember to refuse a plastic straw. He can go pound sand. YOU made a right decision. For you. And mother earth.
Downsizing is an excellent path to respecting the planet. There is only so much finite space, including, space. Yes, there is a high-tech garbage dump building in our upper atmosphere. I don’t know about you, making a few changes that might help curb the volume of small specs of man-made plastics will eventually end up in your pork chop or your beautiful sushi roll. That is enough to encourage me to re-think what I buy. Plastic will seep from the ground, glob onto marine life and rain in nano-pellets someday, if we don’t make some changes now.
Let’s admit it. Once we dispose of a plastic bottle, bread bag clip, plastic utensil…That is what motivates me. The sheer volume of things made of plastic or green-washed alternatives, makes me numb. Everyday is not 100% without buying something with a plastic wrapper or containing synthetic materials. It happens often. The more we choose to buy a product produced with bio-degradable materials it is a feel good. It is an endorphin bump. Enough to encourage the behavior.
Downsizing is easier than it may feel. A macro downsizing is powerful. Reducing your living space is the most overt method. Eliminating additional (unnecessary) sundry…
