Every Small Step Makes a Difference

When I first began my journey towards a healthier environment for my family, I was overwhelmed.  Approximately two years ago I read the book Georgously Green by Sophie Uliano.  After learning about the thousands of toxic chemicals in almost every item in a household I not only felt overwhelmed but angry.  How are companies allowed to sell products containing ingredients that are harmful to humans and to the environment?  Why are many of these known harmful ingredients not banned in Canada when they are in Europe?

The anger then lead to obsession.  I scoured through the items in my house reading all the labels for toxic chemicals.  When I had all my items boxed up and ready for disposal, I realized I had an even bigger problem.  What do I do with all the items?  I did not want to put them in the garbage or drain them down the sink as that would be wasteful and harmful to the earth.  I also did not want to give them away.  If they were not good enough for me to use, how would they be okay for some one else?

Daniel Goleman, most recent author of Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything, in his article for the New York Times (http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/the-age-of-eco-angst/) perfectly defined my feelings as "eco-angst".  It is "... the moment a new bit of unpleasant ecological information about some product or other plunges us into a moment (or more) of despair at the planet’s condition and the fragility of our place on it".

After much deliberation, I finally came to the conclusion that it did not have to be all or nothing - every small step makes a difference.  I did not dispose of all my harmful products.  I used up products that I currently had and when I needed to buy something I no longer did so blindly.  I now thoroughly read ingredient labels (I carry with me a list of toxic ingredients), I ask questions, I do research and I try to support companies with sustainable work practices.

So, please do not cause yourself "eco-angst" but rather pat yourself on the back for each small change you make.  If every person in the world started with a small step like I did, image what we could accomplish!