Starting Young

Habits are formed at a young age; therefore, I encourage you to explore environmentally friendly practices and sustainable concepts with kids. Most kids are not bogged down by other commitments and distractions like adults are, they are able to wholeheartedly commit to the challenge.

When I started delving into reducing plastics in my own life my kids were instantly curious to see what I was up to. After sharing with them my reasoning of wanting to help the planet and reduce the suffering our waste inflicts on wildlife, they too were instantly committed. It is easier to adopt lifestyle changes when you have a support system.

What might seem like a daunting task can instead be a fun challenge and enjoyable journey if your family and friends are willing to explore sustainable living with you.

Since habits in our lifestyle can be hard to alter as we get older, it helps to start young. Learning eco-friendly habits at a young age helps promote a greener, more sustainable future not just for your child, but for the planet.

Collections

Having collections and acquiring stuff can be merely a habit or a hobby. In changing our ways we may want to limit the amount of stuff we acquire. If collecting stuff is a hobby here is a happy middle ground; collect things that can be returned back to nature like heart shape rocks!

The photo above was taken when we traveled to Bend, Oregon and found we were not the only ones with the heart rock collection.

Best things in life are free

The best things in life are free

All we have to do is be outside in nature to realize the best things in life are free! I try to instill this mindset in my kids when they are outside exploring and having fun. Authentic, lasting joy comes not from material possessions, but rather from appreciating the beauty and wonder of our surroundings.

Next time you intend to spend your day shopping to acquire more stuff, try instead to spend that time in nature. Not only will you feel more relaxed and rejuvenated, you will also find more money in your bank account.

You do not have to go to a faraway park or preserve to appreciate nature; the local park or a walk through your neighborhood can be equally enjoyable. Timing is everything. If you enjoy sightings of wildlife in their element, go exploring at the break of day or just before nightfall; these are treasured times in nature.

Shifting how you spend time can be really transformative. Priceless experiences offer heartfelt joy and lasting serenity. The perpetual acquiring of more stuff, on the other hand provides only fleeting gratification, yet costly clutter. When you shift to buying less, you require less money which can lead to choosing to work less with greater intention.

There is a relationship to living with less, living intentionality, and being conscious of our consumption and waste. It is all connected to the environment and a sustainable lifestyle. The more we can experience that connection with nature, the motivation to take a sustainable path will begin to fall into place.

A Balance With Nature

A Balance With Nature

An optimistic resource for actionable items to lessen our impact on the environment. From the smallest of spiders to the most mammoth creatures of land and sea, they all share a common thread, they leave behind a humble, yet valuable footprint for their time spent on the earth. Trying to make eco-friendly decisions in our own lives can help minimize humankind’s harmful impact on the oceans, waterways, nature and all life that the earth sustains.

It is easy to want to go green and invest in the planet if you are able experience nature and all of the beauty it has to offer. It only takes one sighting of innocent wildlife choking on a plastic bag, seeing a deceased albatross with a stomach filled with plastic, or the footage of an incredible creature like a whale dead on the beach with a stomach filled with plastic and manmade products that implore us to change our ways.

This site is a work in progress, sharing ways to live with less, take mindful actions to reduce waste and plastic pollution, and minimize our impact on the environment. Hopefully this resource can be helpful to anyone who is interested in bringing about change in their own life, family, and community.