From One Mom to Another: Dear Mother Earth
Dear Mother Earth,
How are you? Well, actually, I hear you’re not doing too well and that you have a temperature. As for me? Well, I’m feeling kinda guilty. I think I’ve been neglecting you and, you know, taking you for granted. I just assumed that you’d always be there for me and never under the weather. Aren’t that what moms are for?
But now that I’m a little older and maybe even an itsy bit wiser, and with all the talk of going green everywhere I turn, I’ve been trying to turn over a new leaf and, as the media says, reduce my carbon footprint. As you know, we’ve been recycling chez moi for several years now, though I put my plastic bottles and aluminum cans in a verboten plastic bag before I put them inside the blue recycle bin we place at the curb (all the recyclables blow all over the street without it). And we’re really big into recycling newspapers, sending all of ‘em into The Hubby’s animal hospital to line the cages. But until recently, that was the extent of my efforts.
But a few weeks ago, I made another foray into eco-friendship by purchasing reusable grocery bags on sale at my local supermarket. And when I remember to use them (I’m working on that…I try to leave them in my car’s trunk), I feel very tree-huggerish and dare I admit it? A tad self-righteous. But then I get home to find, say, a package waiting for me from Amazon.com with my new software. In a classic case of over-packaging, the little plastic disk comes wrapped in a hard plastic shell (which requires a blow torch to open) in a cardboard box within a shipping carton, so I can’t help but feel that my proud little effort with the recyclable grocery bags is totally cancelled out.
But I’ll try to keep on plugging away ‘cause even though old habits die hard, I do know that all these seemingly little things, when done collectively, will make a difference. And yes, that an eco-friendly journey of a thousand miles begins with just one small step. (Unless, of course, you’re a Hollywood eco-vigilant traveling by private jet.)
So, feel better fast!
Your friend-in-motherhood,
Laurie Y.
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I struggled with remembering my reusable bags for a long time and now I do it instinctively. I trained myself by having a few extra on hand so that I always have a supply in my car and always hang some on the coathooks by my front door. You can also hang them on your doorknob. Once you get in the habit, you'll eventually start doing it automatically! Keep at it... small changes make a big impact!
http://www.minusbags.com
Good for you that you've become green-wise, but I can't resist commenting on the plastic packaging of disks, computer games, etc. Specifically, THERE'S GOTTA BE A BETTER WAY!!!!