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Big feet, smaller footprint
As much as possible, I am trying to make a difference in this big old world by making changes in my little world. I’m trying to consume less, reuse more often and recycle more efficiently. I’ve become tired of people who say things like, “Well, one straw won’t make a difference.” Or people who think it’s someone else’s problem. I’ve always felt any kind of change, no matter the size, is change. Am I right? Change makes a difference, right? The way I see it, one straw times the thirty-three million people, living in Canada, is a lot of straws. I know I’m not perfect, but I am more aware of the impact I have. I am also very uncomfortable when I fail to make an effort to reduce, reuse or recycle either because the effort is inconvenient or I’m in a hurry.
Like a lot of all y’all, once in a while I do show up at the grocery store without my reusable produce bags, sans my reusable carry-home bags. I’m just an ordinary person. I mess up. There are times when I decide, on the spur of the moment, to pick up a dozen eggs, a few apples, bunch of bananas and a pound of butter and don’t have my reusable bags with me. It isn’t always easy to head home to get the bags and then head back to the grocery. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve felt so bad about this I’ve actually bought yet another reusable grocery bag. Having so many reusable grocery bags can’t be a good thing. Now, to help me get it right, I’ve created a checklist of what I might need before I head out for a walk, a drive or a trip to the grocery. I try to be armed with a shopping list. I do, occasionally, stray from the list, but my intention is to purchase only what I need. In the not-so-long-run, I have managed to save a bit of money because I’m not impulse shopping in the grocery store. And I’m not wasting food because I’m only buying what we need. I no longer stockpile perishables just because it seemed like a good idea to have a 50-pound bag of onions or 11 acorn squash and a bushel of tomatoes just in case I’m overwhelmed with the urge to pickle, flash freeze and can stuff.
And my quest to reduce my negative impact has come to include clothing and linens. I’ve never been much of a fashionista (just ask my family). However, when I do feel the urge to buy clothing, I now make sure the purchase is absolutely necessary and, for the most part, look for sustainable brands. Who knew, “The fashion industry is one of the major polluting industries in the world. The production and distribution of the crops, fibres, and garments used in fashion all contribute to differing forms of environmental pollution, including water, air, and soil pollution.” Speaking of “linens”, I’m feeling a bit proud of our bath towels, which are becoming something to behold. Some of our bath towels are so tatty, neither LOML or I are afraid of pressing one of the not so absorbent herd into duty to wipe down the Rolls-can-hardly or mop up a kitchen disaster. Oh, my mother and my mother-in-law wouldn’t be impressed. Both women had a “thing” about not having threadbare linens in their homes, including bath towels, pool and spa towels, tablecloths and runners and dish towels.
I am committed to making changes in my consumer life. I do believe by making small changes, I can make a difference.
Oh look, brand new, fluffy towels!
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