I realize, and have always realized this, that thinking about what it means to be green reminded me that it’s not so simple, is it?
It can be complex. Green energy, environmentally friendly, sustainability… Those phrases, those words, what does it all really mean?Â
Again, it’s complex. There are a lot of components and moving parts.Â
Do you want to save money by conserving more energy and leaving a smaller carbon footprint? Do you want to preserve and protect the land by contributing less to landfills? Do you reuse grocery bags and compost? Do you buy second-hand? Does the way we consume need to change? Can we not reuse plastic or glass bottles without melting them down and reshaping them?Â
The complexity makes it challenging to comprehend. But that’s why this space is here. This is a discussion meant to cover the topics.Â
I’m not an expert, but what happens to my planet matters to me.Â
That’s my driving force to make changes where I can. I have friends that feel like it’s too much of an effort or rather not make that extra step to simply recycle.Â
We, humans, are a fallible species. It takes us time to implement the necessary procedures to keep our planet safe. Unfortunately, it happens on a very slow, bureaucratic timeline. Even when we know a problem exists, there are procedures in place designed to prevent the negative impacts of progress.Â
I say, let’s make a small change right now! Don’t think about it in an immense sense.
Think small. Instead of using paper towels as napkins, buy yourself some cute reusable cloth napkins.Â
Instead of throwing away your plastic bag, take the time to wash it out and use it a few times. Buy your own reusable straw. Again, I know you have to take the time to clean it, but think of all the seahorses that won’t get plastic straws wrapped up in their beautiful tails.Â
Celebrate the small changes you imply. For that, I salute you.Â
SSxx
Karl
March 9, 2021 9:18 pmWhat even happens to a wine bottle once it gets tossed into a recycling bin?
Does it take more energy to create a new bottle from raw material, or is it easier to take a used bottle, break it down/melt it/process it and recycle it into a new bottle? Is it even still used for food/beverage? If yes, what kind of food/beverage? If no, what does it then get used for?
Jeffrey Schreiber
March 9, 2021 9:55 pmdear sweetheart daughter.I love your blog. Keep up the good work
Alexis Schreiber
March 31, 2021 12:59 pmThank you, Dad!
Linda Keany
March 10, 2021 11:27 amYou have Blossomed! Excited for your fresh lovely point of view!! #woohoo #boomboom
Alexis Schreiber
March 31, 2021 1:00 pmHaha, love you, Mom!
Marie O’Rielly
March 10, 2021 3:58 pmCongratulations, this is great and I love the name!
Alexis Schreiber
March 31, 2021 1:00 pmThank you, Marie!!! XOXO
Eric
March 16, 2021 2:36 pmI love the fabric napkins idea. I’m going to start doing that! Great post!
Alexis Schreiber
March 31, 2021 1:01 pmThat’s a fantastic start!!! Celebrate those small changes you make! Thank you, love!
Tracy
March 19, 2021 2:13 pmI stopped buying bottled water over a year ago, however I do have a reusable plastic bottle. I use canvas shopping bags and we have lots of cloth napkins along with cloth face masks. I don’t drive as much as I used to. The pandemic, inadvertently, taught me to be more mindful when I go out. Make a list, plan your route so you don’t have to backtrack, if you forget something, live without it. There are so many small things we can do and one of them is lead by example.
Alexis Schreiber
March 31, 2021 1:03 pmMarvelous, aunt Tracy!! I love the idea of making a list and being more organized and mindful.
Ricky
March 19, 2021 3:29 pmLove this post! You bring up topics that we all need to think of and be more apart of more frequently. Going green to help our planet is something we all need to work on and join together in conversations and acting on it. Karl has a great point also.. when we do recycle, does it take up more energy to reform the plastics and glass into new items? I think I’m going to google that…. (brb)
OKAY! so, I just looked up what happens to glass bottles once recycled. this is what it says.
“After being collected, glass bottles are crushed and ground into what’s called “cullet”, and this ground glass is sold back to glass manufacturers to be melted into new products, including new bottles. “new” glass can contain as much as 70 percent cullet.” -www.winespectator.com
Alexis Schreiber
March 31, 2021 1:04 pm:-*
Jackie
March 20, 2021 11:28 amI stopped buying plastic water bottles many years ago. I have a beautiful composte box, which I want to expand in the near future…..I use this soil for my garden. I have been using re-usable shopping bags for several years. I am going to start re-cycling plastic and glass here in Costa Rica which I did for many years in the US. Believe it or not, it was difficult here as there were few places you could do so……there are more now, so no more excuses. I am learning to live without many things. This is a process. Much easier when you are practically forced to….haha. I am learning and growing here every day. I am much more mindful of what I do and what I buy. There is no industry here in Costa Rica. This is a huge reason we are almost zero carbon here. A vehicle of any kind is double the price…..double…….So….what can we live without? What is really important? I say….do what you can. It feels really good!
Alexis Schreiber
March 31, 2021 1:05 pmOutstanding, Jackie!! 🙂
Jackie
March 20, 2021 11:31 amOh yeah….forgot our biggest contributions…..we have total solar power and we use ONLY rainwater for everything, which we filter……These are biggies…