To be honest, I think this day is silly. If everyday is not Earth Day then we've really lost touch with reality. I mean, without this place, we are sort of up the proverbial crick, ya know? Yes, I said crick. Creek just doesn't sound right to my Pittsburgh born and raised ears. I guess you can take a girl out of the Burgh but you can't take all the Pittburghese outta the girl!
Yes, I digressed.
Back to my point. Right... this obsessed with not being wasteful momma thinks Earth Day is silly. I know, oxymoron. I find it silly in the same way I find Valentine's Day to be silly. Of course it's wonderful to have a day where we are reminded to say "I love you" but if we aren't saying that to those we love each day, well, we are really missing the bigger picture here. Not to mention all the consumer waste that comes from that day. Maybe that's just me.
At least Earth Day has practical applications. It's an opportunity many wouldn't otherwise take to teach their kids or students about recycling and all the cool crafts you can make without spending unnecessary money or creating extra waste. It's a great day to plant your garden. We did the Sunday before. Maybe do a math experiment with water, showing your kids how much they (or you) waste of this invaluable natural resource when it's left running to brush their teeth. It's a great day to go to the zoo and see all the magnificent animals that bless this planet of ours and how they all contribute to the circle of life. The opportunities are endless but here's a list from a wonderful, inspirational and tear jerker of a post I read on Earth Day by Kissing the Frog.
In case you didn't realize, Earth Day is not today! It was Monday. But I'm just getting my mommy free time now. Which I'm spending writing this on my phone, as I sit at the mall Starbucks waiting for the stores to open. As if the i Pad wasn't annoying enough for typing up a post. All I need is my Clinique foundation. It's the only make up I wear and my acne is out if control so this is do or die for me. Yes, another digression. Perhaps I better drink this chai quicker and get my head on for the day!
Okay, back to my story that made me decide to write about Earth Day. It involves Starbucks. Now, I typically would never have anything negative to say about this place. Not just because they help keep me sane and awake but because it was the best company I ever worked for. However, I had an experience on Sunday that I must share. Mainly because was so ridiculous to me that it takes me back to my, "effin West Virgina" post and how I shake my head almost daily at the fact this PA girl now lives in the one state we all grow up making fun of! But also because it's a prime example of how people don't pay attention to how they can help our planet daily rather than crate unnecessary waste and harm.
So, I ran into the new Starbucks at target last Sunday. They had these awesome reusable cups for only a buck! A BUCK! Hot or cold reusable cups. Amazing. One can never have enough reusable coffee cups so I grabbed one, thinking, hey tomorrow is Earth Day so at least I did my one good deed for Mother Earth in case I forget. Not likely, but you never know. I order my iced soy chai, light ice. And THEN I watch the barista take a plastic cup and mark my order on it, set it down for the other barista to make and then set my new reusable cup next to it for them to use. She makes my drink and then tosses the unused plastic cup in the TRASH. The same cup that I spent an extra dollar to avoid doing just that when finished. No one thought twice. No one looked like that was the silliest thing ever. Well, maybe not EVER, but close. I left with my jaw a bit dropped unable to speak because I really couldn't believe that just happened.
In all fairness to my beloved Starbucks, a Target store Starbucks isn't a "real" Starbucks AND in all fairness to my current state, there are people everywhere that don't stop and think before they act. Like how I avoided saying stupid people? I wanted to but hey, everyone does stupid things from time to time. I sure do. Daily. So, I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt and think it was just a momentary lapse in using their brain cells to their full potential. Yet, two people were involved so it makes me question that theory. Either way. Another shake my head moment to chalk up for the books. Or blog inthis case.
Anyway, that's my story. A very long version of a silly little story about how we as humans continue to waste and not think twice a out how it is impacting this miraculous planet of ours. This may seem insignificant to many but if everyone does this each day, imagine the unnecessary waste! Compare that to every one who enters a Starbucks and grabs one of these $1 reusable cups.
We really can make a big difference doing the little things. Every. Day.
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Namaste!
Jaci