Thursday morning I had an epiphany on two levels. Driving into work, listening to a review of Leonardo DiCaprio's new documentary, The 11th Hour, I realized:
- If in the future, after quitting my current job and launching a new creative career, I should decide to return to non-profit work, I will work for the environment.
- I am not doing nearly enough in my everyday life to save the environment.
The latter discovery was more earth-shaking (no pun intended) than the former. I consider myself a conscientious person, but really, I'm just scratching the surface. Once at the office I drafted a list of about 12 things I can do now to live a greener life. I've since been adding to and riffing on the possibilities. None of these changes negatively impact my life, though perhaps a few are marginally more expensive than their non-eco-friendly alternatives. In fact, I believe these changes will improve my quality of life. Here are a few items I'm most excited about:
- Shop locally. This means a smaller carbon imprint (food travels a shorter distance from its origin to my tummy), supporting independent farmers, fresh seasonal produce, AND more trips to the Farmer's Market.
- Reduce packaging. No more snack packs. No more individual servings. Reuse plastic and glass containers. Hmmm...does this mean I should make my own yogurt again?
- Consume my purchases. Plan menus, shop with a list, follow through with the plans. No more spongy cucumbers or moldy pita bread.
- Eliminate grocery bags. Every time you bring your own bags to Trader Joe's you're entered in a monthly gift certificate raffle. Observing my fellow shoppers today, I'd say my odds are definitely decent. My vinyl bags from TJ's are fun and colorful, though they are likely petroleum-based and I probably should have bought the canvas ones. (Rookie mistake.)
- Replace all incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights. The expense hardly seems to be an issue - $7 for two and they'll last forever? Turns out the CFLs come in various shapes besides the spiral, so I'm changing the bulbs in the bathroom fixtures, too.
- And perhaps my favorite for it's obviousness and simplicity...stop using plastic utensils. I bring my lunch t0 work almost every day, why the hell am I eating with a plastic fork? In my lunch bag for tomorrow, already packed (ta da!), I've stashed a spare fork, spoon, Asian soup spoon, and knife. They'll live at my desk and I'll feel virtuous all day long.
In the face of such dire daily news concerning the world we share, it's easy to be overwhelmed by a sense of futility. But I'm empowered by the knowledge that a series of simple changes can have lasting impact - especially if I encourage others to make similar improvements.
On that note, I'm taking myself and my bamboo fiber nightgown to bed. Tomorrow is Yoga Monday (another change) and I'm hitting the ground running.