This Thanksgiving let’s ignore all the pro and anti-Black Friday hype to reflect on what we believe in, what we are for, and what we are willing to do about it.
Last week I was pondering what to write about for this post. I confess Black Friday has a certain allure for me, it embodies everything I believe is wrong about consumerism, but I already wrote about it last year. Besides, I was seeking to deliver a positive message this year, so Black Friday was off limits.
Hmm, what could I write about for Thanksgiving?
An idea came to me a few days ago while I was walking back from the grocery store carrying a loaded reusable shopping bag.
I recalled a recent conversation with my brother from several weeks ago. After I had excitedly shared the news with him that California had just passed the first statewide single-use plastic bag ban, he made an interesting comment. His actual words elude me but the gist was “Environmentalists always seem to be trying to get something stopped, banned, or prohibited.”
His observation stayed with me.
I am delighted with the bag ban, but just banning stuff is only part of the solution to living in harmony with the balance of the natural world. There needs to be a lot of beginning, enabling, and implementing too.
After mulling all this over, I knew I wanted my Thanksgiving post to be about things that I am for. Since I am an avowed treehugger, I selected a dozen green things I strongly believe in, advocate for, and use or do myself.
I am For
- Composting – putting supposed waste to good use by nurturing the soil.
- Fingerless Mittens – staying warm and being able to type on a computer keyboard.
- Local Food – supporting local farmers and buying food grown closer to home.
- Low Flow Showerheads – getting clean and saving water.
- Organic Food – buying and eating food that is good for farmers, the land, and us.
- Personal Action – living gently on the earth and standing up for what you believe.
- Refillable Water Bottles – drinking water from the tap and refilling the same bottle.
- Reusable Shopping Bags – transporting stuff and reusing the same bags.
- Solar Panels – using the sun’s clean renewable power and supporting local jobs.
- Walking – keeping in shape, running errands, and enjoying being outside.
- Water Saving Toilets – flushing and saving water.
- Wood Chips – preventing erosion and helping the soil retain water.
On this Thanksgiving, I am for family, friends, turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, relaxing, conversation, and playing games. I am for being thankful for the wonderful people who touch our lives and the amazing, beautiful Earth we all call home.
What are you for?
- 4th of July – Be a Green Citizen
- 5 Reasons to Try Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
- 7 Ways to Stay Warm Indoors in the Winter and Be Green
- Bottled Water Alternatives
- Composting Made Easy – Tips from an Unlikely Composter
- Drought in a Small Town – Saving Water during the Drought
- Let’s Take Back Thanksgiving – Opt Out of Consumerism
- Make Thanksgiving Count
- Organic Food – What Does the USDA Organic Label Mean?
- Rooftop Solar Costs Less than You Think
- The First Thanksgiving was a Green Event
- Walking – Good for the Planet and Good for You – Do It
- Water Saving Shower Ideas – Low Flow Showerhead
- Wood Chip Mulch Mountain
- You Can Live Without Single-Use Plastic Bags – Here’s How
