Changing the future one act at a time
- Karen Wilson: Family Corner
- April 19, 2023
- 809
What are you doing today to change the future? Have you thought about how you would like the world to be in 10 or 20 years? Have you considered what you want your personal future to look like? What have you done today to make that happen?
Do you frequent locally owned and operated businesses? Do they buy locally? Have you ever asked?
Do you go to a big-box store for groceries or a local store? Do you regularly shop at farmers markets? Do you ever buy direct from a farmer?
Are you aware of the ingredients in things you eat? Do you consider the level of processing of a food product before consuming it?
Do you notice where the things you buy are manufactured? Where would you most like to support employment? Would you like to support a particular level of quality?
Do you look for non-GMO products? Are you willing to pay a bit more for something organic? Have you researched the requirements for something to be labelled as organic?
Do you use chemicals on your grass or plants? Have you researched their long-term or side effects? Have you considered planting native species to avoid the need for additional chemicals? Could you use an area to grow a food product instead of decorative grass? If you are growing grass in order to raise livestock, how are you maintaining its quality?
Do you decide which product to buy based on packaging? How do you dispose of packaging? Is it something you could reuse or compost? Most paper and cardboard trash, think junk mail and shipping boxes, gets shredded for use as chicken or duck bedding at our house.
Do you grow any of your own food? If space is limited, you could grow sprouts or herbs in your kitchen. We often do so during the winter months. In spring we start plants in our basement in order to have them ready for the garden. In summer we have a large garden and grow things in pots on our deck.
Do you buy books directly from the author? If you really like someone’s work, look to see if they offer direct sales. Keeping money in an author’s pocket may be just what they need to create more material for your enjoyment.
Do you buy or sell used products to reduce waste? Do you donate items you no longer need? If I can buy something of good quality in used condition, I usually do.
Do you compost kitchen scraps, grass clippings or leaves? It’s a great way to get rid of waste without sending it to the landfill, and plants love it.
How are you investing in the next generation or the next after that? Are you spending time with your kids, adult children, grandchildren? Pass on how you have dealt with the challenges in your life. What worked? What didn’t? Although times do change, learning from others who have been there before you is of great value.
So what have you done today to affect tomorrow and beyond?