Being sustainable is really about seeing things from a different perspective. And this is a mindset that can be applied to many areas of life! For me, learning about new ideas and points of view helps me to be a more engaged and conscientious person. If you’re discovering what sustainability looks like for you, here are a few things to think about!
Hello, dearie.
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Do you ever feel like you’re only one person and question how you can do it all? Well, it’s true you’re only one person…and you shouldn’t have to do it all! Living a sustainable and eco-conscious life is definitely about doing our individual parts, but also sharing the load with each other.
When I’m seeing things from a different perspective, like yours, and you’re seeing another, like mine, it makes it easier to come together for a common cause.
If you’re here, my guess is that you care about the earth and animals, and you want to make a difference for the future of those you love. After reading, you’ll have some fresh new ways to look at sustainability that will empower and encourage you.
This post is all about how sustainability is seeing things from a different perspective and other life skills that can inspire your journey.
Photo Credit: Probably my dad
Sustainability is about…
1. Empathy.
Photo Credit: @katstanophotography
We’re all super focused on what’s going on in our individual lives…what we need, what we want, what we don’t need and want! But if we are to thrive as a planet, we have to sometimes look beyond ourselves and try to feel what others might be feeling. And that starts with seeing things from a different perspective!
When we skip the plastic straw, it’s not only limiting the inevitable waste, it’s thinking about who might be affected by that crummy plastic! Maybe it’s a baby sea turtle that you want to protect. Or maybe it’s an example you want to provide for your children who, from what I’ve heard, are always watching!
Eco-friendly empathy is about making choices that affect all of us.
2. Creativity.
One of the best parts of sustainability is the creative thinking we can use to save resources and money! Got a random glass yogurt jar? Hey, now you’ve also got a candle votive or vase!
Don’t know what to do with your old, hole-y socks? Ball them up and make a toy for your puppy! (Just make sure they don’t eat the socks!)
Feeling like you have lots of antique silver trays inherited from Grandma, but don’t have a lot of tea times going on? Hang them up and make a wall collage! (This is actually such a pretty aesthetic I want to try.)
When you start looking at things in a different light, you’ll come up with all sorts of ideas to reuse, repurpose, and go DIY bananas!
3. Looking ahead.
Say we all keep buying single-use plastic and other aggravating materials all willy-nilly without any thought to how it will affect the environment. We might think, “I see plenty of pretty flowers, gorgeous trees, and beautiful, wide open fields. I don’t see a problem!”
But, maybe it’s thinking about where all this waste is supposed to go. Seeing the future and how all of our carbon footprints add up is a way to rethink what we buy, consume, and toss. The gases and gunk have to go somewhere. Maybe we all can help with that!
4. Helping others.
Speaking of help, our impressive eco-friendly habits can inspire others to be more eco-conscious, too. I get so many cool ideas from my peers’ lifestyles and advice…and I hope I can do the same for you, too!
Helping each other is also about not judging each other! Hey, I know we all occasionally (or maybe more than occasionally for some of us!) want to bust out our popcorn and Coke and dish some gratuitous gossip about so-and-so. INSTEAD, I’m suggesting grace or leeway or just plain ol’ love…however you want to look at it!
Again, it’s seeing things from a different perspective. Maybe you compost but your neighbor doesn’t. Instead of nagging them or giving them the stink-eye, use that energy to contact your city and see if you can get a neighborhood-wide discount or built-in service for everyone. See…helping!
We all have different resources, knowledge banks, and experiences, leading us to make certain decisions. Let’s have each other’s backs!
5. Being open to change.
My brother’s stayed about the same, though.
Photo Credit: Probably my dad
Sustainability is about having an open mind to switching up routines, forming new habits, and trying alternative ideas. And this can mean different things based on our needs and lifestyles!
Here are some things to think about based on our specific scenarios:
- Family with a new baby: Switching out disposable diapers for cloth diapers
- Pet pawrent: Choosing a dog food company that prioritizes sustainability and ethical practices
- Restaurant owner: Eliminating plastic cutlery and opting for compostable forks, spoons, and knives
- Everybody’s favorite hostess: Using cloth napkins, vintage china, and DIY décor
- Major foodie: Composting food scraps, growing herbs and veggies at home, and ordering less takeout or delivered meals
As you make healthier changes in your life, you’ll probably start noticing how your brain instantly goes to seeing things from a different perspective and creatively imagining what could be!
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6. Not about perfectionism.
Photo Credit: @katstanophotography
Each little step toward becoming more eco-friendly is a win. Whether it’s changing our shopping habits, learning to make repairs to extend an item’s longevity, or repurposing our old stuff, it’s about doing our best with our individual skills and budgets.
It’s also about adding in new ways of being sustainable as time goes on. For example, would I love to reverse all of my fast fashion purchases from the past and make amends by sewing all of my own clothes today? Of course! But I can’t sew, y’all. Not even ONE BUTTON. BUT, maybe I could learn! My grandma sewed actual dresses for my mom. So, it’s in my genes! I just have to find them. (The sewing genes are definitely hiding!)
We can’t suddenly be 100% sustainable! But what we can do is continue to make more thoughtful choices and keep growing. Progress, lovely person, progress!
7. Being aware of your surroundings.
Do you ever pause to bask in the beauty of the sunlight filtering through the trees or stop to notice a single bloom popping up between a crack in the sidewalk? Do you take time to listen to the birds chirp their fanciful melodies or marvel at a full moon beaming through a dark, velvety sky? Do you seek out rainbows after a storm or feel absolutely entranced anytime you’re lucky enough to stand by the ocean? Or is that just me?
Either way, I’m feeling a Disney song coming on.
When I let my heart take in all the magic of nature, I have so much peace, so much joy, and so much wonder. And these things truly motivate me to be as kind to the earth as I can be.
Here’s a small challenge: The next time you’re outside, notice a tiny detail about nature. Maybe its the pattern of the bark on a tree. Maybe it’s the way the leaves make their own little dance as they swirl in the wind. Maybe it’s a squirrel burying a nut.
There’s so much awe out there and I know you’ll find it!
8. Working together.
Photo Credit: @katstanophotography
Again, being eco-conscious, seeing things from a different perspective, and doing our part is not only considering the earth and animals, but it’s also about the people!
We can help each other out! Share those out-of-control day lilies in your yard with a neighbor so that they can start their own flower garden. Team up with a friend to drop off your glass recycling…because I know you dread it like I do! Get tips from others who have savvy, eco-friendly hearts.
We all matter in this and we can be there for each other!
9. Gratitude.
I was fortunate enough to spend about half of my childhood living in the bonafide country on 40 acres of land, surrounded by breathtakingly gorgeous tree lines and mysterious, foggy morning fields and enchanted twilights filled with the fairy-like glow of lightning bugs, that I can still feel landing on my hand…those teensy feet soft like a kiss. (Wow, that was a long sentence!)
We had a cave and a creek and a local country store just a little ways down our gravel road. We were constantly outside, riding bikes, and rabble-rousing. I’m not sure I knew back then how much I loved nature, but I do know I’ve carried that love with me throughout each chapter of my life.
Gratitude for God’s creation or Mother Nature’s nurturing spirit or the mystery of the universe is a huge part of my sustainability journey. Y’ALL, We’re on this cool planet with all kinds of plants and landscapes, the most exceptional animals, and a whole kit and caboodle of inimitable people. This is really, truly amazing.
10. Taking care of what we’ve got.
Photo Credit: @katstanophotography
The better we take care of our stuff, the longer it lasts! And the longer it lasts means the longer we can wait to replace it. Saving resources and money, y’all!
How do we do this? Here are some examples:
- Wash most clothes through gentle methods, like cold water and earth-friendly soap like Earth Breeze. (Earth Breeze has literally changed my life!) Dry on low heat or line dry, if possible.
- Keep home systems and appliances properly maintained.
- Do regular maintenance on your car.
- Don’t jump on furniture, wad up the throw pillows, or do any other version of raucous behavior around your major investments.
- Clean and inspect jewelry.
- Hand-wash fine china or cookware that’s not dishwasher-safe.
- Nurture your plants with love and proper care.
- Place artwork out of direct sunlight so it won’t fade.
- Change out filters…everywhere filters should be changed! (Fridge, coffee machine, air purifier, furnace, etc.)
- Keep tech updated and backed up.
- Immediately treat clothing stains. (I use Seventh Generation and it works well!)
- And, well, literally try not to drop everything and break it! (If you’re me, this can happen a lot!)
It’s also important to be delicate with others’ belongings because it’s not only a show of respect, but a favor to the environment to help keep things in dandy shape.
Seeing Things From A Different Perspective: It’s a Wrap
If you’ve made it this far, I’m grateful for your big, caring heart! OR, even if you just immediately skipped to the bottom, I think you’re cool, too! No matter what, now you have some ideas to inspire and motivate you to make the changes you want and need in order to live your best life.
Got any eco-tips for me? I’d love for you to share in the comments!
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These are all amazing tips for living a more sustainable lifestyle. I love the idea of making a wall collage out of antique silver trays inherited from Grandma, and sharing ideas/helping others as well! Thanks for this. 🙂
Thank you so much, Jenna! I think displaying heirlooms can be such a beautiful way to honor our history and respect our world in the present moment. I appreciate your note! 🙂
This is such an amazing way of looking at living a more sustainable life and why it matters so much! Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you, Andrea! I really appreciate you saying that! I like to look at things in practical, down-to-earth ways–it helps me to motivate myself and I hope it helps others, too! 🙂