2016 is shaping up to be a magnificent year! I don’t know about you, but typically, I welcome the new year in by cleaning, sorting, ditching, pitching and recycling.
As I worked my way through the shelves, closets and storage room, I started to notice something. I have always considered myself to be a “green” person, living lightly on the planet and making healthy choices. By making these choices, I feel I am choosing to be a better steward for myself and the planet. But over the course of a few days, I pulled out a few “not so green” items such as cleaning products, detergents, lotions, shampoos, soaps, makeup, vitamins, and the list goes on. How on earth did some of these products get into my home?
I sighed and took full responsibility. I realized that, in 2015, life got too busy and I lost focus. Shopping was done in the fastest manner. Going to the least number of stores was preferable and price point was always considered. I reached for products that were on sale, easy to use, cheaper or new on the market. Wow, not so green!
I encourage you to take a few moments and walk through your own home, peer into the shelves and cupboards.
What do you see? In that moment, looking at these products on my kitchen floor, I made a clear and conscious commitment to go and grow greener even more in 2016.
I wondered how many other people in our local and global communities have been too busy and lost focus on their own health and the health of the planet. Now is a perfect time for all of us to go and grow greener with our food and product choices.
Buy Canadian-made and support Canadian companies as much as possible, support our local businesses and, most of all, stay focused on your stewardship. It doesn’t end there.
Go and grow greener not only includes healthy practices for our ourselves and our homes, but also extends to our gardens, landscapes and daily habits. Join me and make “go and grow greener” your mantra for 2016.
Elizabeth Shopland is the owner of Nature Inspired Living Co. She can be reached at emshopland@gmail.com and 250-342-1124.
