Because sitting idly by was feeling pretty guilty.
For us, action started slowly and progressively became more of a priority. Our relationship with this beautifully diverse world continues to develop. Recreation has proven a great means to nurture this wonderful connection. As this relationship grows, so to does a sense of responsibility to protect, preserve and restore.
Taking action to clean up lifestyles and shrink our footprint has been humbling and ongoing. A seemingly never-ending evolution where even our greatest potential difference may appear negligible stacked beside the corporate world. Consciousness of this alleged insurmountable task may seem discouraging no doubt. Surely this is the first roadblock for many. To do something about it or not remains the question.
Getting involved requires choosing a side and is empowering as such. This option is a ton more liberating than its apathetic counterpart. Each seemingly irrelevant and insignificant improvement to follow strangely bears an unexplainable sense of worth. This sense of worth is both encouraging and motivating. It exists because you’ve taken the reigns when you noticed someone should. It doesn’t mean you know how to drive but the situation looks a whole lot better with a driver.
Try a bunch of changes and see what works for you. Sometimes we figure out alternatives that are cheaper or healthier while also using less packaging or sourced locally. Double-wins are especially sweet. Talk about what you’re doing with people. You might get to know them better, find inspiration, or gain knowledge about more double-wins. Talking also helps commit to what you’re doing to whatever degree you think is reasonable.
Taking action is liberating and has many shapes and forms. Finding your own way is truly the key and the only way to get fully behind what you’re doing. Deciding how much, or little action to take is up to you.
Little changes are the easiest to sustain and a solid recommendation to start. Add a few together and you’ll have momentum in no time. Remember a long journey always starts with a single step.
Through communication and expression we hope to share both our love for this beautiful place and desire to do good for it. Perhaps that is a way to inspire others to take part and stack our personal “insignificant” improvements on top of each other?
Maybe taking better photos of the beauty we see can further express how much is at stake?
Remember how much or how little action to take is up to you. You don’t need to be turning your lifestyle upside down to begin motion in the right direction. Weather you’re organizing rally’s or just heading outside to get after it. We hope to stoke the fire!
10 Ways to take personal action:
Consider emissions, packaging, waste and your daily environmental footprint whenever possible. Be mindful of your lifestyle choices and the waste they create. Aim to grow knowledge on how to better Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. There are no tangible results here but this is where change begins. A shift in consciousness is crucial to start the ball rolling and a precursor to things like killing an idling car, unnecessary light or unused water flow.
Calculate your carbon footprint at:
https://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx
Sort waste to ensure the absolute minimum goes to landfill. Designated compost/recycling bins are part of this process. Rinsing and removing lids are equally important. Improving diligence makes this an evolutionary process.
Use a thermos or mug for coffee/tea. A designated, re-usable vessel that will stand the test of time is the way. A mug is great for luxury but a thermos is much more applicable to the busy schedule. Considering ease of cleaning will prove useful in the long-run.
Monitor and reduce your consumption of junk food/drinks. Things like fast food, pop/power drinks, and treats fall in this category. This “food group” is bad for your health, costs hard-earned money to indulge, and uses LOTS of single use packaging.
Reduce emissions with your commute. Walk or Bike if possible. This is a great option for physical health and designating daily outside time. Although effective, this option is not realistic for many. Going electric, carpooling or using public transit are just a few more stellar options. Purchasing a more fuel efficient vehicle or even a service and a bit of air in the tires are solid steps in the right direction.
Carry a plastic bag in your backpack or purse. Pick up garbage or recycling when you see fit. This absolutely means you are still allowed to walk past garbage without picking it up. It will likely surprise you, however, how easy and convenient it is to execute this without much effort. People also tend to notice when you do this and motivation or positive words are somewhat commonplace. A compostable doggy bag or re-using a single use bag you saved from a purchase are good options to have on hand.
Eat vegetables, they’re good for you. If you can go vegan and feel healthy, power to you! Research into the meat industry is important for context. Red meat tends to fair the worst in the sustainability department so limiting consumption here has proven important to us. Chicken and fish remain a solid option but things like farmed fish or the use of antibiotics/hormones are red flags. Hunting or fishing is a way to ensure your table has natural ingredients and could be a strategy for some. Shifting the dial to a larger ratio of greens or simply adjusting the type of meat consumed can make a big difference.
Resist consumerism. When consumption is necessary, take a few minutes to research your options. There are more and more companies shifting their sustainability dial and paying them versus their counterpart is paramount. Aim to extend the life of any purchase wherever possible. Perhaps care or service can extend lifespan? Can you settle for degraded appearance when functionality remains? Could re-purposing eliminate disposal? Utilizing a “re-use-it” center, “free” post , or donating to a fellow human may also serve to extend a products life.
Donations are most certainly another way to take action. Disposable income is the obvious hurdle here but research is key for effectiveness and there’s certainly no shortage of solid investment opportunities. Cleaning up the ocean, reforestation or alternative energy are but a few examples and a local charity may feel that much more purposeful. A charity working to protect an issue of personal interest may also help to add meaning and value.
We are lifetime members of AWARE, Whistler’s local organization. Interested?
Volunteering is another HUGE way to make a real difference. Research, again, because your time is valuable! There are a wide variety of fabulous organizations making a real difference who rely heavily on volunteer work. Volunteering is super prevalent in environmental work, looks great on a resume and is a solid networking tool within your community. That whole, “sense of worth after doing good” most certainly applies here and again feels rewarding.
Keep Stoking the fire!
Stoking the fire 