Photo Credit gideon_wright/Flickr

Earth Day is the day we celebrate the earth. Last week-end, people from all over the world came together to plant trees, pledge to compost and/or recycle more, remember their reusable mugs and bags. It seems to me that people sometimes forget that the earth needs some love the other 364 days out of the year.

I look at it a lot like birthdays. We celebrate and show people how special they are on their birthday, but the rest of the year we don't just forget who that person is and ignore them. We continue to love and support them. I think it should be the same for Mother Earth.

Do you ever wonder if people get wrapped up in the hype and think if they plant a tree on Earth Day their good deed is done for the year? For me, it is more than Earth Day – it’s more like Earth Year! Of course, I distinguish Earth Day from all the other days during the year and try to plan a special activity. However, the rest of the year I make sure to keep our planet in mind.

We feel good knowing that our actions and choices do make a difference- no matter what others think. There are times when people look at me with a raised eyebrow when I pack up my food scraps in a napkin to bring home from a restaurant. Does it affect me? Of course. I am only human. There are times that I spiral down, get upset, question what I am doing & rethink my “greenness” – But I stop myself and remember who I am, and will not change that for anyone. I like bringing my compost to my local farmer, and I enjoy cloth diapering, but most of all, I love Mother Earth, and will do what I need to do to live a fulfilling and sustainable life. Not because I have to, but because I want to.

Wondering how I celebrate not only Earth Day, but Earth Year?

1. Creating less trash is important to me and my family. I am always prepared with my “to-go goodie bag” which contains cloth napkins, glass straws, glass containers, cloth produce bags, cups, and utensils. Is it heavy? Yes. Can it be annoying to lug around? Absolutely. Why do I do it? I hate thinking that everything that we put in the garbage ends up in a landfill or somewhere else because it “fell off the truck and is now blowing in the wind.”  It breaks my heart knowing that trash is just sitting there, not really doing much (except emitting methane gas). It takes a long time for trash to biodegrade because there is no oxygen in that pile of crap. Have you ever really thought to where your everyday trash ends up? Maybe today is the day to investigate a little further.
2. Besides disliking the creation of trash- I do not appreciate when people do not put “their” trash in a garbage pail.  They just drop it and let the wind take it where it will. I can’t count the amount of times I am at the park and there are candy wrappers, plastic bags, etc. just hanging out in the grass. Last year, I began bringing a reusable bag and gloves with me on my walks, so I can pick up other people's trash and at least dispose of it correctly. I am not sure why trash gets my blood boiling exactly, but what I do know, is that throwing something in the trash is not a difficult task. So please, give a hoot, and don't pollute.
3. I am an addict. I can’t stop. I do it everywhere. I am addicted to composting. I love the rush I get knowing my food scraps can either be a farm animals food or go towards creating good quality dirt. It is one of the most fulfilling green acts that I do.

I honestly believe that if we all did small acts of “earthness” everyday, and celebrated Mother Earth as part of our daily lives, the impact would be significant.

Will you join me in celebrating Earth Year?

This article was originally posted on Blogher.

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post. Any purchase you make helps support this blog. Thank you!