When the weight of the world is on *you*

I had a lot of apprehensions about this post, particularly because i was going to Vlog it….But Im a little gun shy about the whole video taping myself. I went from nerves of no one watching to possibly my entire facebook family watching plus a few foreignors. The weight of the world on my shoulders has been a real plaguing symptom that I have had for a couple years. Ive read articles thats its normal but it wasnt until today when a friend posted her feelings about it that i decided this was a good idea to post. Ive been able to squealch the feeling in my twenties ( BOOZE) but in the last few years I realized, Eureka, I am in fact only one person.

I did want to show a small-albeit gross-way to intro myself to anyone that is new to my blog (hi.) and probably solidify my weirdness to those that have had physical encounters with me. (And hopefully we are still friends now.)

Welcome to my weekly or monthly garbage

The reason I’m bringing this up with the world heaviness is because anyone that’s so anxiety ridden/feeling guilt needs to start somewhere. Start with your own trash. Recycle it. There are about 3 things in this pile I cannot recycle. The rest will be. Sure. I dig through my trash every Sunday night, sorting this bullshit out. This is what a couple weeks of lazy looks like. Normally, I sort of recycle instantly( but I was in fear of that serial killer so I was waiting for daylight which really means during a weekend moment.)

Keep in mind, you need to do your city/county research. Plastic bags can’t go in our recycling so a lot of this just goes straight in the green monster bin outside, also another reason to throughly shred mail before tossing it straight in there. One plastic bag can stop the recycling machine at the city of tampa for 4 hours. 4 hours of labor spent fishing out pieces of plastic shreds that take 450 years to breakdown. We won’t even be a twinkle in that plastics eye.

The mickey soap bottle-can be recycled. I’ll take it apart when I do, sometimes the caps make it a pain for machinery too. I don’t drink bottled water and I certainly don’t buy it except for in times of hurricanes.

Toilet paper rolls almost never go in the trash at my home. I save them for various projects because they’re wonderful to paint with or make mock items out of.

All that tissue? I’ll let you guess what it’s from but that’ll go in the recycling bin too as it’s probably just boogie’ing.

I’m just pointing out that, yes, some serious shit is going on but starting small is better than sitting around stunned or finger wagging on the Internet doing nothing.

****Worrying solves nothing.*****

Then there’s this. My house is filled with plastic. I sometimes eat fast food. But I am in fact trying. And that’s something.

I’m not perfect and neither will you be. I don’t believe in throwing a full container of cleaner out because I found out it’s terrible but I will find an alternative source and alter my behavior. I don’t use straws at outings if I can help it and I bring my legit silverware from home for lunches OR I use that damn spoon I accidentally had to use because I was stuck between eating like a caveman, and I use that motherfucker until it decomposes with me at the end of time (when I’m 85, and I do comfortably in my nice little cozy bed with world peace.) I used to ride my bike to work until I obtained a new job and can’t. Instead of potentially dying via road rage, I am just choosing to be conscientious about my carbon footprint and lower it anyway I can, mostly with combining trips/passengers/not driving for fun.

I even sold my soap this week and wrapped in plastic. I single handily hate myself so much for weeks on end for this. I have been looking for an alternative that’s cost effective and biodegradable but I also needed a supply at that moment in time. Lesson learned. Next time there will be the big change.

Here’s what I propose:

1. Don’t use disposable straws. Buy your own. They make steel ones.
2. Ban styrofoam items from ever touching your hands.(we have a restaurant we can’t go to because they use nothing but styrofoam even at dine in!)
3. Get paper when shopping at your local grocer.

Zero impact is quite difficult out the gate. I mean, you really have to have the ability to just gut your shit up. Interested? I have some literature you will want to read or even a documentary you should watch. I thoroughly enjoyed “No Impact Man” by Colin Beavan. His drip dry of pride is probably my favorite part even if it’s not his.

Want to start with community solutions?

Humane society of Tampa needs rags/blankets anything that you might want to toss but feel kind of terrible about just making it garbage. They also need volunteers. Always.

The foundation for sustainable families probably the most near and dear to me because it’s a wholesome family affair. They provide education and family support, they have a farm for volunteering on to provide the community with veggies, they even are working on bee keeping. Constantly working towards a brighter future for all children, they deal a lot with fostering/adoption.

Looking for alternative products to switch to? Look no further than Pacific Beach Organics. They provide sunblock that isn’t harmful for marine life, which is crucial in California and surprise! here in Florida. They also make deodorant, hair products, lip balm and are hoping to have paperboard packaging for all their products coming the new year. You really can’t beat that.

Do try to remember you too, are only one person but making small steps towards greener living has a greater impact that will resonate past your footsteps. The weight is heavy, but know there are a few more of us to help make it easier.

-M