Selfless Good Deed?
After we had moved into our new house in Comox, my husband started an ‘organic’ non-genetically modified food kick that followed us here to Ontario. I have to admit that the selection here isn’t as good as it was back home, and I might buy a banana or avocado here or there that isn’t organic to help us stay on budget. But we try our best and the lifestyle change is firmly embedded into our cereal choices (General Mills will never set foot in my pantry again… I know never say never, but for now Nature’s Path and Kashi are staples in our grocery list). So now it is my turn. I know nine ladies who are expecting at the moment and two really new moms (it’s an epidemic!). I know that at least 30% of those ladies are planning on cloth diapering at least part time. This got me to thinking (and reading) and I am now on a reusable kick.
I recently discovered an alternative to disposable pads and tampons, at lunapads.com. I’ve decided to use cloth hankies (also available from lunapads.com) instead of disposable tissues. And I’ve started buying the occasional reusable grocery bag and am slowly building up my reserves. I’ve also decided to cut back on my use of plastic by using more Tupperware (the cheap kind) instead of sandwich baggies for my lunch. I know it’s not much, but I believe that every little bit counts.
Yesterday I was pretty proud of myself for having biked to work instead of driving and for using my reusable bags at my recent grocery pit stop (usually I forget them at home and buy another – hence the slow building of a substantial reserve; I’ve started leaving some in each car so there are always a few available and this is working great). As I patted my own back on the way home from the grocery store I was reminded of that Friends episode where Phoebe and Joey (I think) get in an argument about whether it is possible to accomplish a selfless good deed. The theory being that we do good deeds because they make us feel good, therefore no good deed is selfless – because even if you don’t tell people and brag about it (as I have just done), you feel good about yourself (as I was doing) for having accomplished this good deed. Anyhow, it got me thinking that if I tried to do one thing every day to lessen my impact on my environment (eg. bike to work, carpool, use at least on reusable bag instead of plastic, have a shorter shower, chose a more environmentally friendly cleaner…etc.) it would add up, without really feeling like much. Plus if I acknowledged the intent of each action I would get that little ‘feel good boost’ every day. So I am pledging here on the world wide web that I will try to do at least one thing everyday to lessen my impact…even if it’s just remembering that that empty toilet paper roll belongs in the recycling bin and not the garbage.
My challenge to you is to try and do one thing everyday this week to lessen your impact on the environment AND acknowledge this act (even if it just is to yourself) because then you will feel good about yourself and be more likely to repeat the action in the future.
Jaclynn B.
Kingston, ON.
