Day 18 of 30 Days of Health
🎥 BLUE ZONE VLOG
Join Matt as we explore how nurturing Mother Nature nurtures us, and discover ways to give back for a healthier world/you.
👁 TODAY’S INTENTION
Today, let’s cultivate a more reciprocal relationship with Mother Nature to further commune with her life-giving abundance.
Our environment provides us with the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. By making mindful choices, we can reduce our ecological footprint, create a healthier environment, and support future generations. This means understanding that every action we take has a ripple effect on the Earth.
Ready to show Mother Nature some love today?
🌎 BLUE ZONE INSPIRATION
Residents of Blue Zones understand that a healthy environment is key to a long, vibrant life. They live in harmony with nature, nurturing the land that sustains them. From community gardens to sustainable farming practices, their way of life reflects a deep respect for the environment. Emulating these practices can inspire us to be more mindful of our environmental impact.
💬 QUOTE
“We humans are the only species with the power to destroy the earth as we know it. The birds have no such power, nor do the insects, nor does any mammal. Yet if we have the capacity to destroy the earth, so, too, do we have the capacity to protect it.”
– The 14th Dalai Lama, a spiritual leader renowned for his teachings on compassion and mindfulness, highlights our unique ability and responsibility to protect the Earth.
🧬 SCIENCE
Human activity significantly impacts the environment. Ecosystems and the planet have changed dramatically due to efforts to support the growing population.
Scientists warn that without immediate action, human-caused environmental changes could lead to mass extinctions and irreversible damage.
🧘 HEALTHY HABIT
Today’s Task: Give back to the Earth.
Since this is Day 17 of our 30 Days of Health Journey, here are 17 simple ways we can to reduce your environmental impact:
- 🙅 Refuse what you do not need. Before habitually accepting something the next time someone offers you something, ask yourself: do I really need this? Learn to say no to the things you don’t need; no one will be offended.
- 🌿 Reduce what you do need. Take a look inside your trash can. That’s a great way to get a snapshot of the type of waste you produce and will begin to inspire less wasteful alternatives.
- ♻️ Reuse what you consume. Reusing can be a fun, creative process in extending the life of an object by re-purposing it.
- 🔄 Recycle what you cannot refuse. When we recycle, Nature works her magic and allows us to convert that waste into new products which dramatically reduces the need to consume natural resources.
- 🌾 Compost what you cannot recycle. Along with healing our bodies, Nature thrives on re-purposing our carrot tops, pizza crust, and fingernails. But when we mix that organic waste with our glass bottles and plastic forks, we make it really hard for nature to decompose that organic material.
- 🛒 Go zero-waste for a day. With a bit of awareness, preparation, and creativity, anyone can enjoy the bliss of a life of less waste. Here are Matt’s takeaways from going zero waste for a month »
- 🍎 Eat locally sourced food. The average American meal travels 1500 miles to reach the table. What if we just ate what grew in our community instead? It’s proven to be healthier and Mother Nature would sure appreciate less depletion of her nonrenewable resources used on food transportation.
- 🥂 Savor your food. Look at it. Smell it. Recognize the immense amount of work that went into each bite of food. Show gratitude for all the plants, animals, and natural elements that were at play to create each plate of food.
- 🚫 Avoid single-use plastics. Convenience comes at a cost. Using a plastic fork for 10 minutes just to let it sit in a landfill for 100 years or more.
- 📦 Avoid individually-wrapped products. Is the convenience of individually shrink-wrapped potatoes necessary? Packaging is also one of the most costly aspects of store-bought products. So by avoiding things that use more packaging, we will likely find some financial savings too.
- 🧹 Clean up a community space. Not only will you feel good about yourself, soak up some sun, and move your body, but you send a rippling inspiration to others in your community to do the same.
- 🌸 Plant a native plant. When we plant seeds that are native to our area, they work in a synergistic unison with the climate and soils in your area. It helps the local insects and pollinators in your area, which in turn brings the birds and animals. Planting natives is a wonderful way to show gratitude to your natural environment.
- 🚴 Carpool or take your bike. The idea of borrowing a shovel from your neighbor, who then pops over for a cup of sugar the next day, is not new.
- 🌍 Swap a consumable for a biodegradable. Toothbrushes are going anywhere, especially if they’re plastic. Why not ground yourself and do Mother Nature a favor by swapping one of your everyday items with one that is biodegradable?
- 🤝 Embrace a sharing economy. The idea of borrowing a shovel from your neighbor, who then pops over for a cup of sugar the next day, is not new and quite beneficial for everyone involved—especially the environment!
- 📚 Share the knowledge. Much of our adverse impact on the environment would be avoided only if we knew better. Cultivating awareness with compassion might just be the best way to show respect and give back to all the Earth has given us.
- 🙏 Be thankful for what your environment gives you. Give a second thought of gratitude when you shower, eat, sit in that wooden chair … “golly Nature, thanks for providing practically everything I have!”
⚕️ MEDICINAL MOTTO
“I am a part of the Earth, and it is a part of me.”
Reflect on this truth. How does recognizing your connection to the Earth change your actions? Use this mantra to inspire eco-friendly choices throughout your day.
✍🏼 JOURNAL PROMPTS
What is one small thing you can do in your immediate environment that will have healthy rippling benefits to the world at large?
Write about your plan and how you will implement it.
📣 AFFIRMATION
I care for my environment; I care for myself.
🙌 KUDOS
Well done for showing Mother Nature some love today! Your mindful actions contribute to a healthier planet and a brighter future for all. Keep nurturing this connection and inspire others to do the same.
💬 COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
What’s one change you’ve made that has positively impacted the environment?
Share your experience in the comments and let’s inspire one another to take action.
This is a hard one for me to think of as I feel I don’t produce a great deal of waste. I don’t use plastic water bottles and limit my use of paper products. I will prep my environment so I can continue not to use plastic bags by organizing my car so my reusable bags are easily accessible.
But a water bottle and stop using disposable plastic water. ? ashamed of myself for not doing it sooner. Going to buy one today!
There’s more no doubt but I’m starting there today and working on one thing a week I can do that’s better for the environment.
Bring reusable plastic bags (IKEA is one source) to the grocery for veggies and bulk.
Be more mindful of waste
We can more use of natural cleaning solutions rather than manufactured chemical ones. Our city mandates five waste streams to maximize “reduce, re-use, recycle” responsibility. Our family stopped using plastic water bottles over five years ago, and are switching bit by bit to biodegradable wooden cooking utensils, wooden toothbrushes, natural bristle and cotton dish scrubbers, natural loofas rather than plastic shower-puffs. It’s a challenge to replace plastic purchases with glass, ceramic, wooden, and other biodegradable versions of what is so available and convenient in plastic. We keep learning and trying to take better care of our planet’s health.
For me, there are tons of things that I can do that would help, but when I think about something that has an immediate larger effect (and is still small), it’s taking that time to appreciate the larger context. The reason behind why I am using a reusable coffee cup or carrying around my own grocery bag, or doing my best to not use any straws. The smaller thing I can do is really appreciate the beauty and the value of everything that I have around me. Slow down a little bit to breathe and take it all in.
Buy products that come in biodegradable packages.
I also use reusable bags for grocery’s. I recycle as much as possible and donate un-wanted clothes and household items every month. My downfall is plastic water bottles, I carry them with me in the car always. I do recycle the plastic, I just need to start drinking tap water and carry a reusable water bottle.
After publishing this session today, I went to the local market to pick up some beans and rice; each was individually wrapped and then put into a bigger bag. I guiltily left the marketing remembering how important being prepared is when it comes to reducing my environmental impact. Something as simple as keeping a reusable bag on me (thanks, Lynn!) would drastically reduce my reliance on single-use plastics.
We recycle as a town and we just started composting. I like the idea of bringing my own reusable canvas bags with me when I go shopping. Thinking I will just work down through your list, Matt.