Anyone who knows me, knows that I love my quotes and use them every day for inspiration. This particular quote is relevant for us today:-

“I am only one, but I am still one. I cannot do everything but I can do something. ”
– Helen Keller

We take care of our family and the things that we love so why not take a bit of extra care for our Earth, the world that we live in that supports us and is a living, breathing system. Let’s show this planet that we call home a bit of care and affection.

1. Plant a Tree. It’s good for the air and the land. It can cool your house down with the shade and also add value to your property. Trees also provide a habitat for birds and insects.

2. Go Without Plastic. Glass is good for storage whether it is food or water. Glass is also better for the planet: made from all-natural, sustainable raw materials, glass is 100% recyclable and can be reused endlessly. Glass, unlike some plastic bottles, does not contain any harmful chemicals such as BPA, phthalate, PVC, or polycarbonate, so nothing can leach into your water from a glass bottle.

3. Go Outside. It’s so easy to stay inside where it is warm and cozy, but maybe today, venture out, get some fresh air and exercise. Try to be extra observant and see the beauty in the outdoors, wherever you are. We hardly ever come into contact with nature but if we do not know, see, and experience nature and the great outdoors, how can we love it?

4. Be Mindful. It might sound obvious, but I’m sure many of us go about our days without thinking about how our little daily habits impact the earth. Today let’s go about our routine a little more mindfully, and make little gestures of love like turning the lights off when we leave the room, turning off the water while brushing or shaving, picking up that litter, or even just starting up a compost or recycle bin.

5. Meat Free Monday. One less meat-based meal a week helps the planet and your diet. Cutting out meat one day a week will help prevent four of the leading causes of death: heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. Eating less meat can help minimize the ecological footprint of your food because stock breeding and farming has a detrimental impact on the environment.

6. Rethink Bottled Water. Roughly 2.7 million tons of plastic are used each year worldwide for disposable drinking bottles. Nearly 90% of plastic water bottles are not recycled, instead taking thousands of years to decompose. Buy a reusable container and fill it with tap water, a great choice for the environment, your wallet, and possibly your health.

 7. Live Simply. Wealth, possessions and a high standard of living are not the be all and end all in our lives. For an eco-friendly life we need to seek quality of life instead. To be honest, we need to live more simply, so that others may simply live. Any fool can make life complicated; it requires a genius to make it simple.

8. Less Toxins in Your Home. Use less harmful products when cleaning the house and washing clothes. Learn about alternatives to household cleaning items that do not use toxic chemicals. Review labels of household cleaners you use. Consider alternatives like baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice or a little more elbow grease.

9. Buy Seasonal and Local. Consider the amount of pollution created to get your food from the farm to your table. Whenever possible, buy seasonal fruit and vegetables or at local farmers’ markets. You will be supporting your local economy and reducing the amount of greenhouse gas created when products are flown or trucked in.

10. Share! Take what you’ve learned, and help spread the word. If every person you know just took one step towards being greener, the collective effort would be huge. We can make a difference.