Today is Earth Day, and while I obviously believe in everything it stands for, I also think it’s one of those holidays like Thanksgiving — shouldn’t we really be honoring the things that are represented by this day everyday?
I’m not perfect, and I don’t expect anyone else to be either, but when we’re knowledgeable and conscious of what we do and how that affects the world around us, I think that makes us more inclined to change our habits over time, and change them for the better. I know that since I started writing this blog over two and a half years ago, I’ve learned a lot and I’ve made a lot of small changes in both my daily habits and what I buy, how I buy it, and where I buy it from.
I’m much more careful about looking at the ingredients in things now, particularly products that are going to go on or in my body. I keep a copy of The Green Guide’s The Dirty Dozen Chemicals in Cosmetics list in my wallet, along with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch guide, so I can refer to them as I’m shopping and stay away from products that are harmful to me and the environment.
Ideal Bite’s daily email newsletter keeps me informed about greener options I never would have thought about otherwise. (One of their recent emails was about reusable glass straws — I didn’t even know those existed!) Tiny Choices is a fantastic blog filled with tons of great tips on easy ways to get started going green.
How are you celebrating Earth Day this year? What are some ways that you’ve found your own habits changing recently in an effort to be kinder to the earth? What changes do you want to make for the future?
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
It’s interesting to see the sort of backlash (perhaps too strong a word) against Earth Day, and has made me think about the silliness of dedicating only one day a year to the environment. I guess we can think about it as a day for symbolic action, new beginnings, and spreading information to people who might not know how to change their habits–and spreading this information not through a bunch of expensive “how to be cool and green at the same time” self-help books, but through community.
Also, reusable straws?! That is amazing. I’ve just signed up for the IdealBite newsletter…I’m sold. Thanks for the tips.