We are making our world sick. We have been for a long time now. Climate change is affecting our planet, leading to more intense heat waves, droughts, wildfires, hurricanes and blizzards. We’re polluting our oceans, our land, and our air. And we’re destroying the habitats of animals that are crucial to our own survival.

And yet, everywhere I turn, I see a stupid amount of inertia in people, a lack of willingness to do something about it. There’s this perspective of “oh, well I’m just one person, nothing I do will make any difference.” Or even worse: “We’re already screwed, so why bother?” Well guess what? If everyone continues to think that way, then yeah, we really are doomed.

You control your choices and actions.

You may not be able to make others stop using plastic utensils, but you can choose to do so yourself. We all have the ability to make our own choices, and it starts by putting one foot in front of the other. I still have a long way to go myself, but I’m working on it. I’m working on cutting out the use of non-biodegradable utensils. My wife and I are focused on purchasing items made from more sustainable materials, like bamboo. And we do our best to reduce our energy usage to minimize demands on the grid. We’re trying, and we’re making progress.

Maybe it’s too late for us to undo the damage we’ve done to the planet… but maybe it’s not. And you have to believe that it’s worth it for us to try, just as hard as we can, to stop the bleeding. You have to do more than believe, though; you have to take action for yourself, too. It’s not enough to leave the heavy lifting to the governments, companies, and movers and shakers of the world. They’re all important; but so are you and your own actions.

The sooner we collectively recognize this, the better chance we stand of undoing the decades of damage we’ve done to our planet. Ghandi had it right: we need to be the change we want to see in the world, now more than ever. If you’re one of those “can’t be bothered” types, ask yourself this: what kind of world do you want your kids to grow up in? What kind of world do you want to retire in? And do you want to be part of the population that, instead of saving the planet for future generations, was the one that hammered the final nail into the coffin?

…I didn’t think so.

Wrapping it Up… in Paper, not Plastic.

Stop littering. Quit throwing out plastic that belongs in the recycling. And for god’s sake, stop taking plastic bags from the grocery store. These are easy wins. I’m not saying all this from an ivory tower, either; it’s on me to do these things as much as anyone else. I’m just sick and tired of hearing in the news about all the damage we’re causing, and feeling like we’re all sitting around not doing anything about it. The world’s problems are my responsibility, your responsibility; our responsibility. It’s time we grow the hell up as a species and do our part, however small it may feel, to clean up our act.