why earth deserves all the days
*Enjoy this grounding yoga practice and my earth-inspired lake meditation 🙂
It’s lovely to have a day where the Earth is recognized; where companies make helpful donations, sustainable commitments, and inspiring statements; where we might be a little bit more aware of the lifestyle we live and the products we purchase.
The thing is, earth-friendly living takes daily attention and effort; sometimes this type of lifestyle is not as convenient or as quick of a turn around as we want it to be.
When we love something or someone, though, and we realize all it does / they do for us (we literally wouldn’t be here without the earth’s bounty), we go the extra mile to care for it / them.
So my question to those of us with the privilege of having abundant resources is:
Can we do a little bit extra for our planet?
I’m certainly still learning and trying myself, but my personal studies and experiences over the years – including a Master’s Thesis on sustainable fashion – has inspired me to adopt some more conscious habits that, although not always convenient, have now become second-nature to me.
For example: buying things second-hand can be both an adventure and also a bit of a pain. It takes longer; sometimes the thing doesn’t look or work or fit the way we had hoped; it doesn’t come with a warranty or a return policy.
Irritations aside, buying second-hand can increase the life-cycle of something that might have otherwise been chucked into a trash pile, and that is likely to be replaced with another thing.
This shows us that we can do the same, too – so long as the thing is in decent enough condition, we can sell or offer it to someone who might give it a good home, whether it’s old jewelry or clothes, perfectly functional and useful electronics, or kitchenware.
When purchasing anything from toilet paper to food, from skincare to apparel, making more ecologically-conscious choices might take a bit more time and research; it may require more of a financial investment.
It can also be a bummer to relinquish the consumption of things that are familiar and convenient – whether it’s a nostalgic cereal or a beloved footwear brand.
We can gradually learn to emotionally release and physically bypass the stuff that no longer serves us or our planet; to direct our attention and dollars toward brands and products that implement ecologically responsible production and packaging.
It’s not about perfection (no need to turn into a stressed out eco-monster), but more-so about cultivating awareness and taking aligned action as often as possible.
It can feel exhausting and overwhelming to consider all of this – hence the turn toward ease and convenience (the subsidies that companies receive to make things cheaper and faster – and as a result more toxic / less effective – is another story).
Realities like providing for other humans or pets, paying bills, or managing health issues may also take precedence – finding a balance within these personal and planetary priorities needs to be tailored to you.
All things considered, the practice of considering our ecological impact in our daily life is a very important muscle that is built over time, and can be curated to suit our ever-changing circumstances.
The commitment to living this way is also a mindset and practice that will eventually evolve into something that feels a more habitual.
When we remember that this commitment is for the benefit of our own species and all the magnificent ecological systems and creatures we share this big beautiful rock with (we rely on each other!), eco-conscious habits become not only more natural, but also more of a privileged responsibility.
In the meantime, we can start small and try things out for ourselves (accessibility and budget permitting) to discover our own unique planet-friendly habits.
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