Becoming more environmentally conscious
Since I started my personal journey towards a more simple life I became step by step more aware of my environmental footprint, my weight on the nature and environment. I started to ask questions to myself, why do I purchase bottled water if I can avoid it by planning a bit better my day.
Why do I use paper cups if I have a coffee in a cafe shop in the city, like right now, just sitting in a big cafe chain’s shop and guess what I have my travel cup with me I even got £0.25 pennies off from my americano’s price.
Why do I purchase prepackaged vegetables in the big store if I can buy vegetables and fruits in the local store packagefree and most times for cheaper?
What’s the reason I buy endless number of clothes?
I was thinking recently about what brought into my life eco-consciousness in the first place but I couldn’t highlight any major story that I can say, yes that was that moment. I even wrote my master’s dissertation about; “Are the environmentally friendly companies rewarded more in the equity market?” where I concluded due to satisfactory results that there is a positive correlation between return and eco-friendly practices, the more green a company is the more return can be obtained in the equity market for them, otherwise what would indicate companies to invest so much money into eco-friendly practices apart of government pressure?
I can go back in time even longer than my MSc in the uni, as long as I remember, as a child I was taught by my parents to do not throw away rubbish in the street, public places, do not litter, use stuff as long as possible, do not waste food, do not waste resources, do not waste money, do not harm the environment, do not step on plants etc… So I think that was the time in my mind was planted the base of eco-consciousness, a life long path I have taken.
Nowadays it is extremely hard to do not pollute the planet, but I’ve got good news, we don’t need people doing minimalism and waste free living perfectly, instead we need millions of people doing it imperfectly. I do not ask you to stop eating meat, I do eat meat myself, I do not ask you to never purchase nothing going forward, I ask you instead to stop wasting, stop wasting your money on things you don’t need to impress people you don’t care about. Stop wasting resources, use things as much as possible and get better use of your money and your freetime.
One of my favourite quote came in my mind writing this article from one of the greatest sport personality of all times;
Looking at life from a different perspective makes you realize that it's not the deer that is crossing the road, rather it's the road that is crossing the forest. - Muhammad Ali
There’s still lot to learn, I feel more open since simple living and minimalism found me, and this quote is a great summary of a different perspective life could be looked at.
My awareness improved, I definitely became more eco-conscious, did I become perfect in that aspect? Definitely not, but trying my best, small acts, small deeds, that’s the way to go. Feel free to join to the movements.
Yours sincerely
To/Minimal
