Take Action Tuesday
Monday was the pity party, Tuesday was for taking action.
Yesterday was the day I segmented my life at Our Little House into things I can do things about and the things that I cannot.
I didn’t have one thing in the “I can’t” category.
The first thing on my list was the amount of information I’m taking in. I will take a complete break from the computer on Saturday and Sunday, but until then, I do have to be online finishing my work. I don’t, however, have to watch any more news about the Gusher in the Gulf right now. That might seem like I’m burying my head in the sand (pun intended), and I am, but it’s what I have to do to maintain since I cannot be there doing something hands on to either help the folks or wildlife who make the Gulf region their home.
What I can do – and what I did – was take Emily's advice over at Little House on the Southern Prairie. I mentally went through our entire house yesterday, making note of how we could make Our Little House even more environmentally friendly and take away a little more of the power Big Oil has over our household.
There will be no more sandwich or plastic snack bags and every container will be reused for Dale’s lunches. I’ve also resolved to have our well water tested, something we’ve failed to do to this point. If there’s nothing lurking in the water that will kill us within 50 years, we will no longer be purchasing gallon jugs of drinking water. As for gasoline consumption, we already combine as many trips as possible, but I found ways to combine two more, further reducing our vehicle’s thirst.
Take that, BP!
As for animal welfare, I decided to stop feeling so helpless on Monday night and I contacted a rescue that was pulling dogs yesterday from a high kill shelter in the city nearest to us. I found a rescue to take one and helped direct an online fundraiser that saved eight more. A total of 17 dogs were saved from euthanasia yesterday and I felt a part of something. The rescue was more than glad to have help too! Sadly, six were left behind, but one of the rescuers said she learned a long time ago to only focus on what she could do and say a prayer for the rest. I did during my meditation, sending them love and peace for their next journey.
I also pulled my business plan out and dusted it off, something I hadn’t done since the business of freelance journalism has changed so drastically. I have to change with it and that means new goals. I also took a look at our vision board, making sure my actions are in line with goals we’ve set in our personal lives.
A little gardening didn’t hurt yesterday either. There’s nothing like ending the day with a fresh garden salad filled with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini and onions planted by your own hands and nurtured by the sun and earth to renew your faith in the world.
I’m hoping the rest of the Living Large community is starting to take action for themselves and for the earth again as well. Tell us about it.
Kerri, can you send yr. email address?
I want to talk to you about our new book on tiny houses.
Thanks!
Lloyd Kahn
Editor
lloyd@shelterpub.com
We(meaning me and the spouse) just celebrated 6 months of car pooling:
*That means we used 34 gallons of gas less/month
*We only put 1 car on the road
*Saved on 1 oil change(on other car)
Also:
*We completely stopped used plastic grocery bags
*Now are recycling everything incl. food scraps
*Added 2 more rain barrels for plant watering
*Use only 1 kitchen sz trash bag weekly
My next plans are:
*Freeze and put up summer veggies
*To plant a few more trees to shade house
*Plant a fall garden
Writing down what you what to accomplish and checking your list as you go, really helps to motivate and retrain you to think creatively and environmentally. It's all about what you can do and not what you can't.
Stay inspired!!
That's wonderful, Sandy. You go!
A great post. Sometimes we all need to go into a brief state of denile to regroup and refocus. It's reminder that one person can't change the the whole world, but each of us can do something to make a difference in our little part of it.
That's true, SABLE. I think the Internet brings us all so much closer and that can be a good thing and a bad thing. In one respect, it brings us together and shows we are all a part of this planet. However, the enormity of some of the problems we face can be so overwhelming. I say start small in your own house, community, with one shelter, etc. and know you are doing some good.
I think you do a wonderful job. You commit 100% to so many thing. Am proud of YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you, Phillis. That means a lot.
Very inspiring to read because it's so relate-able. Even the smallest action with purpose can help relieve a hopeless feeling. ~Meredith
That is so true, Meredith.
This is very inspiring. I've been feeling overwhelmed lately just with life — too much work, too many things on the calendar, no time to do anything it seems. I need to find time to take a breath and set some goals too — environmentally and just for life in general.
I think we all need to do that sometimes.
I love the idea of taking negative energy and using it towards positive action! Agree with Allie– this is very inspiring Kerri! Ridding my sister's barn of its feral cat population is my ultimate animal welfare goal, and I've decided to focus most of my money and energy on that. In the big picture, with all of the homeless animals needing help, it's a small thing, but it's something I can do. My sister and I are currently working on catching the "mother of all mother cats." She is producing litters of kittens as fast as we scoop them up and take them to Wayside Waifs. Three litters so far have been rescued– but we need to get her spayed FAST! You are so right– focusing on what can be done, instead of feeling overwhelmed about all that can't, is the way to go! Great blog!
Thanks, Kathleen! It just takes baby steps. Every one of us can do one "little" thing and before you know it, that turns into one great big thing!
Sounds like great ideas! Another would be to call your reps in Congress about the Toxic Chemicals Act, in review this month. We really need this new legislation to clean up the environment!
Very good idea, Alexandra!
Thanks, Allie. You DID do something amazing yesterday, finding the home for that lost black lab! You Rock, my friend! You know the BBD syndrome (that's Big Black Dog) that guy could have had a very bad future, or no future and you changed that! All of the six that had to be left at the shelter yesterday were black dogs, most of them labs. So sad, but I did learn that because so many were pulled that they have space and won't be killing them this week. Maybe we can get them out next week!
Kerri,
What an inspiring post! Thank you for writing this! And bless you for saving those animals yesterday!
I think I will jot down some things I could do along those lines too.
Allie