THE HUMAN FOOTPRINT. In the grand scheme of things, humans live relatively short lives. According to Google, the human lifespan, on average, is 79 years. When compared to that of the 4.543 billion-year-old planet that we inhabit, our lives seems less than miniscule. Whats more, when compared to the entire universe, which is estimated to be approximately 13.773 billion years old, we appear nigh irrelevant. '> "Blue Marble": the first image of Earth from space (December 7, 1972). However, were you aware that the average American produces roughly 4.5 pounds of trash...A DAY? Most of this daily production consists of plastic, which can take anywhere between 10 and 1000 years to decompose in a landfill. Other products contributing to these 4.5 pounds also take excessively long times to decompose (except for Styrofoam which never biodegrades) due to the way in which landfills are designed. Even a banana peel, which can decompose fairly rapidly when composted, takes much longer to break down in a landfill. Likewise, did you know the average American uses anywhere from 80 to 100 gallons of water per day? Or that U.S. citizens create approximately 100 pounds of carbon emissions a day? That's 20 metric tons of carbon annually! These alarmingly high rates of consumption are depleting the world of it's natural resources and polluting the ones that remain. That's not fair to plants and animals sharing the Earth with us, to our future generations, nor to ourselves. It is so easy to overlook the little things you do that may not seem like a big deal, but can in fact leave a lasting impact. If it wasn't easy, advertisement wouldn't be so successful! Unfortunately, the world revolves around money, and going green isn't always a hot and profitable topic. But it's these mindless, everyday activities we participate in that we actually have some influence over and can change to be more environmentally friendly. Buying a bottle of water at the grocery store, idling your car while waiting to pick someone up, leaving the water running while brushing your teeth; these are all things you can tweak to make both you and the environment more healthy. Regardless of common misconceptions, you don't need to feel guilty about your lifestyle as long as you are trying to make a difference. Trying is the key word there! Striding for a more sustainable lifestyle doesn't need to consume your life or prevent you from showering ever again, it's simply a way of living that benefits all parties. Our species evolved amongst nature. Now shouldn't we nurture it? ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS. Living a sustainable, eco-conscious life is a simple way to not only make a difference, but to genuinely feel good about the life you live. Don't you want to know how you're affecting the environment? If so, it is important to be aware of your interactions with the surrounding world. For a more fulfilled, mindful, stress-free, and inspiring life, do what you can, when you can, to reduce your footprint. By being eco-conscious, you are thus taking responsibility for the consequences of your actions as well as your happiness. Mitigating the negative impacts you have on the world is a difference only you can make. WHY SHOULD I CARE? There are tons of arguments for transitioning to a more eco-conscious lifestyle. A few include...
WHERE DO I START? 1. Research Start by reading up using key words to search the internet such as "sustainable living", "going green", "eco-friendly lifestyle", etc. 2. Be observant Then find the tasks/habits/activities that you participate in every week and and figure out the ways in which they are negatively impacting the environment that you can change. It's important to know your boundaries; there is only so much you can do as an individual. You can't force a random stranger to stop eating meat and only commute via bicycle, it's hard enough to encourage the ones close to you. 3. Make a change. Once you've identified the things that you have control of and can actually change, then do it! Start making a difference, even if it's a small one. 4. Expand your awareness. Next, start analyzing your daily life and the ways in which you can live more sustainably every day. 5. Set an example. Start living the life that you want to live. Being happy with your life will encourage others to seek out the source. HOW HAS SUSTAINABLE LIVING CHANGED YOUR LIFE? I'd love to hear your stories about how switching to a more eco-conscious lifestyle has affected your life! And I'm always happy to answer your questions!
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AuthorHi there, my name's Jennifer! I'm a tree-hugging, adventure-seeking, mid-twenties-something and I'm here to share my story with you! Follow me as I try my best to lead a natural and sustainable both everyday and while trying my best to see the world. Follow me on insta! @treadlightlylivefully
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