Because simply living in this world has an impact to the planet we live in, I have decided to live life with as little impact as I can manage. (Note that I said “…as I can manage”.) I want to be able to produce less carbon footprint, because I realize that merely recycling will not make a dent in the problems we humans are creating. It helps, of course, but we need to do more.
However, the longer I think about it, the more challenging I am beginning to see this plan of mine. I had tried to do this one week in the past, and I did find that conscious selection of what we eat, use or do will lessen waste products. So why am I finding it difficult now?
To start off, I think one of the biggest contributors for my carbon footprint is my car, for obvious reasons. But I can’t not use it. Even if I leave it at home, I will just call for an Uber, and it’s going to be the same thing. Maybe more expensive for me, but same. Definitely not sustainable.
So scratch that.
I will have to focus on food products, which is the second biggest contributor to my waste management woes, and maybe cleaning products? Hmm…that’s something I have to plan out more.
Anyway, I want to be able to start, officially, on Monday, but I have started by buying only fresh produce from the small market near our house, using less packaging, and hopefully, buying local (because I don’t know where they got their wares, but I only got the local veggies, so I’m sure they didn’t have to travel very, very far to get here). And also, I cooked dinner instead of buying or eating out. Forced my daughter to eat all vegetables in the process, too.
Living a low impact lifestyle means having less material things. And, honestly, I don’t think I’m ready for that. It will take a lot of will power to stop buying things, but I think the results will be worth it.
Let’s see how long I can sustain this.
