Investing in the World/Living Lightly {Making the World a Better Place to Be(and to Blog)}

by Beth Stephens of The Little Magpie

As you’re probably aware, April is Earth Month.  However, we wanted to take a little bit of a different approach to the concept.  Sometimes, when you talk about words like “sustainability” or “the environment,” a lot of people check out.  It may be because they don’t buy in, are tired of what’s perceived as hype around global warming or they are simply overwhelmed trying to get through their own day and saving their sanity, leaving little time to think or care about saving the world!

livinglightly

Link/photo credit: GraphicsFairy.blogspot.com

We want you to think a little differently about the idea of Earth Month, and to extend it to concepts like community, your own “tribe of women” or just your neighborhood.  Rather than saving the world, let’s have a conversation about investing in the world.
Every spring, I get the itch to turn over a new leaf.  It seems like a better time to me to tackle clutter (mental and physical), dropping bad habits and adopting new ones and overall considering an annual makeover resulting in Beth 2.0 (yes, it’s always 2.0 despite multiple years – I wouldn’t want to strive for Beth 11.0!)
livinglightly2
 Link/photo credit: GraphicsFairy.blogspot.com
As humans, we still retain some of the tendencies of our ancestors, and that’s a good thing.  While we may not hunt and forage for food, I like to think the urge for spring cleaning or preparing for fall is deeply built into our fiber.  It’s healthy for us to be in tune with the seasons rather than stumbling through life blindly.  With all this in mind, we have some humble ideas for you to try as you subscribe to a different kind of Earth Month – maybe for the first time.  Below, you’ll find one very simple idea you can implement now, two basic ideas (still simple) and one resource if you are ready for sweeping change!
Live Kindly
  • Be kind to a service provider.  From the person who performs your oil change or delivers your mail to the one who brings you your lunch or makes you a coffee, each is doing something helpful for you (or something you’re incapable of doing yourself!)  Be genuinely appreciative by making eye contact and saying thank you to a server or waving at the school staff member standing in the rain when you bring your child through the car rider line.
  • Be a gatherer.  One of the most rewarding things we can do for others and ourselves is gather others together.  Could you invite a disparate group of neighbors to have coffee and welcome a new neighbor?  Or start a book club or supper club?  Help people to come out of their shells and form new relationships.  Be the force behind new friendships by being a connector.
  • Think of others.  A good friend of mine is one of the most earnest listeners and thoughtful individuals I’ve ever met.  Mention in passing that you’ve been feeling under the weather or have a tough task ahead, and you’ll receive a note a day or so later to ask how you’re feeling or a text at the start time of that tough task wishing you well.  She doesn’t overthink it or send a lengthy novel, just a quick and upbeat note to check on you.  She has trained herself mentally to be compassionate, to listen carefully and to remember the challenges and victories of others.
  • Ready to kick it up a notch?  Take on a cause.  Many people volunteer regularly for one-off events such as a canned food drive or a 5K (and this is GOOD!)  However, it’s less common for us to take on a cause and champion it… to really devote our time to mentoring a child, regularly volunteering with an organization, writing a letter to the editor or making an automatic gift or payroll deduction as we’re able to support an initiative that matters.  What do you stand for, what is your cause?
Live Happily
 
  • Greet all those you encounter.  My friend Paul Vitale, a motivational speaker from Little Rock, is the single best example I’ve ever seen of this approach.  He passes no human being without making eye contact and greeting them warmly, saying simply “Hello!” or “How are you today?” with a genuine smile.  Be the person who lifts up those around you, the one who is not so consumed with her own problems that she is crabby toward unsuspecting passers-by.
  • Create a happy home.  I believe that women are the keepers of happiness in the home.  No matter how rotten our own day, we can set the tone by greeting spouses, children and pets with genuine warmth in the morning and the evening.  Stephanie Buckley is one of the best I’ve seen at focusing on her kids in the morning and welcoming them home from any outing.
  • Find your 15.  A little time to invest in your own thoughts and be alone is critical for most women to be happy.  Get up a little earlier, take a few minutes at midday or in the evening, but be sure you designate it.  You might read, write in a journal, look out the window or sit on a porch, go for a walk… just do something every day just for you.  It’s only 15 minutes, but it is a tangible investment in your own happiness.
  • Ready to kick it up a notch?  Read (or re-read) The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, or visit Happiness-Project.com to start your own happiness challenge or simply receive a daily dose of happiness nudging.  Take less than 60 seconds for some perspective about living in the moment by watching The Years Are Short.
Live Lightly
If you’re actually itching to challenge yourself to live a little more sustainably, here are some easy tips and a few more challenging resources.  While people have different perspectives on issues such as climate change, there is no arguing with the fact that landfills are overflowing, litter lines many streets and habitats are shrinking as populations grow.  Rather than worrying about saving the world, our family just focuses on the things we can do better.  It’s just like life in general – we can’t be responsible for how others act, but we can always take the high road ourselves!
  • Humble yourself: go pick up litter.  Most people agree it is a good idea, but they don’t want to be seen picking up trash.  Decide now on a small spot and tackle it – maybe your yard or street or on a walk at the park.  Picking up litter is a lesson in self-discipline, and it’s good for us to internalize the bigger message: don’t step over or walk past a problem.  Ignoring it won’t make it go away.  Be the person who sets an example for your family and those around you – stop to pick up trash.
  • Fewer disposable water bottles: just invest in a few glass or stainless water bottles for yourself and family members.  We fill them at night and keep them in the fridge – just as quick to grab on the way out the door!
  • Eliminate plastic bags: again, a few inexpensive cloth bags are a small investment.  If you’re prone to forget them, keep some in the house and some in the car.  Many stores offer a discount for bringing your own bag.  Tie a string around your finger or set them on the dashboard if that’s what it takes to carry them inside!
  • Ready to kick it up a notch?  For the ultimate environmental challenge, check out the blog and newly-released e-book Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson for a complete perspective change (and actionable steps) to live a more simple and rewarding life.  Be ready for big, fresh ideas!