The Ripple Effect

So far, my approach to having less impact on the earth has been to make one choice everyday that reduces my carbon footprint. Some of my choices have been seemingly small, while others will obviously have a profound, hopefully positive, impact. 'Small' choices might include walking to work, unplugging my entertainment center, buying cloth napkins. Choices that seem 'larger', harder to implement, might include cooking all of our snack foods instead of buying packaged goods, not purchasing a yearly trash decal so that I will have to pay a higher rate per bag(major incentive to reduce our trash output)and installing alternative energy systems. But I'm sure you already know where I am headed- every decision, 'small' or 'large', has an impact. What you might not have considered in this equation is the impact on my emotional and spiritual well-being. Being conscientious of my actions has made me so much more aware of the wonderful resources I have in my community. And I am more present in the moment when I am actively searching for the most environmentally sound approach to daily living. It's so much more fun to pick strawberries and make jam with my daughter than to drive to the closest mega-mart and buy jam. So, start small- the benefits will be big!