Hey Green Junkie,
Ever heard of the 80/20 rule? Perhaps you’ve heard of it when it comes to dieting or taking care of yourself. However, today I’m going to add sustainability to that list and my guest Amity is going to help us understand how we can use the 80/20 rule in our quest to be a little more green.
In this episode I will touch on the following:
- Practicing the 80/20 rule in sustainability
- Why moderation is okay
- How to let go of stress and anxiety in the green space
- How to help others navigate sustainability
If you love this podcast be sure to leave a review and share a screenshot of this episode to your IG stories. Tag @thisisstephaniemoram so I can shout you out and publicly say thanks.
Thanks for listening and being here.
Your green bestie,
Xoxo Stephanie
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Produced by: Alecia Harris
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TRANSCRIPT FOR EPISODE 61
Stephanie Moram 0:00
Hi Green Junkie it's Stephanie Moram, and today I have the pleasure of speaking with Amity Hook-Sopko, the publisher and editor of Green Child magazine. Her background includes sales, marketing, journalism, blogging, with the last 15 years focused entirely in the green living natural parenting and wellness sector. Amity has been featured as an expert throughout various media outlets, including Parents, New York Magazine, Huffington Post, She Knows Care.com, Earth 911 and has contributed to several books on positive parenting, green living and natural birth. Before we jump in, head over to Instagram and TikTok, and follow me @thisisstephaniemoram. And if you want to reduce your waste, and learn to consume less in just five days, you can binge my complimentary audio series, you'll find the link in the description. And don't forget to subscribe to the Green Junkie podcast on whatever platform you get your podcasts. That way, you will never miss a green living episode.Hello, Amity. Thank you for being here. I really appreciate it.
Amity Hook-Sopko 1:09
Hello, I'm so happy for you to have me. Thank you.
Stephanie Moram 1:11
Of course, of course. So let's jump in. I just want to preface that. I've actually known Amity since about what 2010 online. So this is going to be a fun conversation. We we can chat about like sustainability and stuff like that. So I know when we were kind of preparing for this podcast, you had mentioned the 80/20 rule when it comes to sustainability and how that helped you actually live more green or more sustainable? So can you talk about that? What is the 20/80 rule? And how does that apply to sustainability?
Amity Hook-Sopko 1:47
Okay, sure. So in, in sustainability, it's it's actually taking the Pareto Principle, which is that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. And so one way you can look at that, in, as you know, refers to sustainability, like in your home, is say your energy bills are usually you know, kind of the biggest, the biggest like part of your budget that you want to work on. And so energy usually is consist of like our heating and air or water heaters, that type of thing. And so when you get once you get maybe more insulation in your house, your windows under control, you can start to save, you start to use less energy, which is better for the planet better for your budget. So it's like, in that sense, is like the kind of the traditional way of looking at ad 20. But there's another way that we can kind of flip it to where we can say that 80% of doing something 80% of the time and sort of letting ourselves off the hook 20% of the time kind of leads to we're still getting really good results. But also we can kind of benefit from less stress that right? So example would be somebody that is trying to live that low waste lifestyle and not beat themself up if they forget, they're, like, poor. Yeah, like they're usable at work, right? Like, it's okay that, if that small percent well to 20% of the time or even less, whatever it is, right? You forget to, you know, your fork or your mug, or whatever it is still get the coffee, if you want to, right, if you choose if it doesn't stress you out.
Stephanie Moram 3:34
And I think that's what you kind of hit the nail on is like that, like, the stress? You know what I mean? A little bit that.
Amity Hook-Sopko 3:44
Exactly, yeah. So it's, it sort of became something that I needed to do in my life. Because I think it hit me one day, it's been several, it's been probably 15 years ago, maybe 12. I don't know, we were at a birthday party. And for a kid I love for a family that I love. And I realized I wasn't having any fun because all I could think about was the amount of trash being either were balloons there were, you know, all the paper, all the plastic, everything was just like so junky. And it just felt like it was really, it was really bothering me. And so I was like, in order for me to be happy and enjoy myself with this party, like I'm going to have to there's going to have to be a balance, I'm going to have to like, you know, I lower my expectations, even though I don't even know I don't typically expect other people to you know, have the same standards for certain things as I have. And I know that I don't live up to other people's standards on other things too. But just like that day was when I started, you know, looking for a way to, I guess just bring more balance in and I started I guess paying attention to ways I learned about there's a diet called the flex aterian are flexitarian lifestyle where just say someone really wants to be a vegetarian, but they love bacon. So they go like, it's 90/10, it's 80/20, it's something along those lines where 80% of the time, they're eating, you know, a vegetarian diet, and then 20% of the time, they let themselves unique. And so that is, it's much better for your body for the planet, and you know, than just eating, eating certain types of meat anyway, all the time.
Amity Hook-Sopko 5:31
And it helps you reach your goal, it also helps you stay happier, you know, you're putting less stress on yourself, and you're still getting to enjoy things that you like, in life. And another example, my husband, and I have a really good friend who is a personal trainer, and during the week, he eats clean, he works out every day. And then on the weekend. So like we've seen him a few times recently, you know, during football season, he drinks beer, he has a bourbon, he eats kind of whatever people bring to tailgating. And he knows that like, if Saturday, he knows that tomorrow, he's gonna eat better, and he knows all week, he's gonna eat clean, it doesn't, you know, you can't, you can't do that if you're, you know, allergic to dairy, you can't just go eat cheese, right? Four meals a week, you know, or something like that. But within reason, it's just, it's just a good way of, you know, it's just a, it's a good way of letting yourself giving yourself some grace, and like still allowing yourself to uphold your principle, whether it's green living, or zero waste, or healthy eating, or no, even if it's like screen time with your kids there, you may want kids who, who never watch a screen, and that's great. But there might be some times that it helps to like, let you know, it helps like it helps distract them, or they need to calm down, they need to unwind, or they just love some type of program or game or something. And so I just think that like 80/20, or whatever balance that works for you is, you know, one way to, like kind of keep everybody happy. And allow yourself that balance.
Stephanie Moram 7:16
And I think it's also something like you said, you had that aha moment, I find in the green living space. I mean, I could be wrong, but this was kind of my experiences I was 150% in and there was like no room for like maneuvering. Like it was like I had to be on all the time. And I'm pretty still I'm pretty intense still with my green living sustainability like, but not as intense as I used to be probably more near like the 95 five rule or 90/10. But I'm better than I was before. And this is an example I have just, this just happened on Sunday. So my kids do not drink like Coke or Pepsi or anything like that. And my son had he's nine years old, and he had a soccer party. And so they all got coupons, they could grab a bag of chips and a drink and they had bottled water, juice and like Cogan seven up and stuff like that. And I'm like, oh gosh, oh gosh, he's gonna ask, he's gonna ask. And then they didn't have cheese pizza. And that's usually what my kids eat. We don't eat a lot of meat out of the house. It's usually just at home. Like, oh my gosh, they don't have cheese pizza. So I went over to him and he's like, can I please just get the seven off? And I'm like Jackson, can we get a juice instead? Can that be the media? Like, can we do that? And he's like, and then I kind of didn't answer right away because I saw the pizza come. And he's like, there's only pepperoni. And then he just looked at me. He's like, can I just have some fun for once? I was like, “Okay, first of all, you have lots of fun, okay,” with being a little dramatic was like, Can I have a little bit of fun?
Stephanie Moram 9:03
But then I kind of just sat there and I was like, Yes, I really think soft drinks are horrible. They're just watering high fructose corn syrup. But in the grand grand scheme of things, he's going to have that one 7up, sitting with his buddies with a piece of pizza and he was happy. Right? Is he going to drink a seven up anytime soon? Am I gonna buy it? Absolutely not. And they don't drink it at their friend's house. So it was like in that moment, I was like, okay, Stephanie. Just leave them like stop stressing out and you're right it like it can really ruin some of your fun and I've had to do that as well. Like kind of let go like I I was at this.
Stephanie Moram 9:51
I was at this exact same soccer party and it was all like nine to 18 year olds and I'm looking around I'm like, Oh my gosh, are so much waste. Like, oh my gosh, they're not composting. Composting is in this town. Why aren't they composting? Because we compost in our town and I'm like, Why isn't there a compost bin? Why don't they use compostable plates? Like, that's all I thought about that? I was like, okay, Stephanie, you need to, like, stop thinking about these things. But it's just things that like, take space, in my mind. And I think for some people, it can be really detrimental and like, drive them bananas. Me, it's just like the way my brain works. But you're right, it can really stress some people out. Right?
Amity Hook-Sopko 10:35
Yeah, I think it can't, and it takes you out of the moment. So then you're not enjoying the people around you, because you're so distracted by the waste. And the thing is, that waste, unfortunately, is going to be there, whether you and your son were at the soccer party or not.
Stephanie Moram 10:52
And it was, you know, it wasn't my fault for going to that birthday party. And then having all that waste, if we had called off that day, for some other reason, it also would have happened. So there's nothing you can do about it.
Amity Hook-Sopko 11:07
And you know, like the Serenity Prayer about grant me the serenity to accept the things that I can't control and know the difference between what I can, like, there's no reason for you, or me or anyone listening to get stressed out over that plate. And that, you know, in, yeah, if your kid kind of goes haywire with sugar, then maybe it's a different conversation. I know. Several years ago, I interviewed Sara snow. She's a green living expert, when she was expecting her first daughter and her parents her her parents were the founders of I believe it's eaten foods. Yep. And so they grew up on a farm in Michigan, and, you know, they always ate like farm food, and they didn't have any, you know, they didn't have sugar. But, um, so I was like, Well, what was it like, you know, when you were a teenager or something, starting to make your own decisions? And like, how will this inform how you parent, and she said that her parents, like, never gave them many rules when they went to friends houses, but when they would come back, like they would come home and say, like, oh, so and so's house, they have a big bowl of m&ms and they had this and we ate this. And so then her mom would just say, okay, you know, that's nice, but just pay attention to how you feel. And then she might notice like, Oh, my tummy hurts, or Oh, my, you know, bowel movements are different or something along those lines that her parents were sort of able to kind of give her that lesson without ever really lecturing her and allowing her moderation is what you can, what you know, what feels good to you what you could still manage about yourself within reasons. And just like with, you know, flexitarian and, and whatever, I don't think you should ever compromise any principles or faith or, you know, anything, especially like, food allergies, or doesn't mean like you take no insane risks 20% of the time, either, like you still, even our friend who, even our trainer friend on the weekends, doesn't mean he like lays on the couch. He's a very active guy like where he's probably doing yard work, we might all meet up and go paddleboarding somewhere like he's still in the meals that he's probably having that I don't see him at at the football party are probably still healthy meals, you know, but it's just to say that if everyone else is eating chips and dip and the kind of stuff that you have it, parties, he's eating it too. And he's having he's enjoying himself and, and like living life and probably not, you know, freaking out over the fact that people eat this food.
Stephanie Moram 13:49
So no, I just, in principle, love this 80/20 and I think, you know, in the sustainability world, so many people feel eco guilt. If anyone, I did a podcast episode, called Eco guilt, it's episode 27 If anyone wants to listen, but I think it's, it's a thing. I think people feel so guilty about the choices that they make, and how that can impact the environment, or how can it impact animals? Or how does it impact, you know, the planet and all that and the 80/20 rule just kind of is like, step back for a minute. We're not perfect. We're all doing this imperfectly.
Amity Hook-Sopko 14:34
And we're doing the best we can, right. And you know, someone feels great because like 100% of the time they're on their game when it comes to sustainability. Good for you. But yeah, I feel like the moment that like guilt sets in or the stress that's when it's like to reevaluate, you know, why am I doing this?
Stephanie Moram 14:54
If I'm gonna like die of stress, you know, like, and I just When it comes to food when it comes to your lifestyle, when it comes to sustainability, I think it's just so important to, you know, you want to stay healthy, right? So if you're constantly stressed out about all this stuff, you're like saving the planet, but you're like literally killing yourself inside because of the stress.
Stephanie Moram 15:20
I don't think one is, I don't think you're any more advanced in that. So how has you know you doing at 20? Do you just feel like, more relaxed when you're out? And about? Do you feel like less stress? Is there some stuff where it's like a non negotiable, like, for me, I won't take a plastic water bottle, I just cannot bring myself right, I would have to be in the desert to take a plastic water bottle like, and I always have mine. So it's never like an issue. Like, that's my non negotiable. But if I met with my kids, and we're getting ice cream, and I forgot a spoon, and I'm like, Okay, you get a spoon, we'll bring it back and and wash it kind of thing. And we'll just use it another time. Or we'll donate it or if we're having a party, we'll use the plastic spoon kind of thing. Is there anything that you're like non negotiable when it comes to say like the green space. But other stuff, you're like, No, like, if I go out and I forget this, or I do this, it's just it is what it is. And that's the way I'm living my life. Right?
Amity Hook-Sopko 16:18
I feel you on water bottles, I'm pretty close to non negotiable on water bottles, and I'm pretty close to it on styrofoam. Occasionally, there's like a place that just won't let you you know, fill up your water or tea or something with their with your own drink. And so that still causes me a lot. Like I'm like, I I really want some tea with it. Like I really wanted to be tea. And so I you know, this is I guess the choice I'm gonna make, especially for like traveling and I can't get home to make my own tea or something. But so yeah, there's that. There's also like, we this was this was maybe within the last 10 or 12 years, we just decided that any like, wooden furniture we were going to get for our home was going to be you know consignment or estate sale or we have cat so, you know, you kind of can't do that with like sofas. If somebody else had a pet like, you know, territorial animals, and then I'm not going to use a used mattress, it's fine. If you if other people want to use a mattress, it's great and good. But that's just not something I'm willing to do that. So like, yeah, all of the wooden furniture that, you know, we buy for just like it's, it's fine to be used. And then in some cases like, well, it's usually it's almost always cheaper. And then we got this amazing dining room table from a woman who used to, she was a real estate broker for horse farms. And she, she told us that it was from Ethan Allen back when Ethan Allen was good. Whatever that means, but that also takes the stress out because this table, we've already had it at least 10 years, maybe longer. It's beautiful dining room table, but it already had some like nicks and scratches in it, you know, from being used. So that takes my stress away from like, the first time a kid was going to slam down copper, or something on it or somebody at a dinner, you know, and so, um, so yeah, it's just, I do feel a lot more free in my life, and I feel like I am because the other benefit is that by sort of giving this grace to myself, I'm able to give it more to other people and I feel less judgmental, and then I feel like I'm happier where I am when I'm around other people like tonight I'm I'll be working the concession stand at my son's ball baseball game. And in the past, I have been like, how do people eat? French fries covered with this congealed cheat like this cheese is in a vat and it came out of a can. It's also like I want to be like you should we have EMTs on site in case someone has already eat this. And so now I'll just be like, I hope I'm not the one who has to serve that like can I be in charge of peanuts and but there will be bottles and water. And I'll just have like, I'll just be like this is what it is. And like I said this is this is what it'll be Thursday night's game when I am not in here working it and so I can't control it'll be what it is, you know, two years from now and my son is no longer playing high school baseball. And so yeah, so I think I think that like freedom and that honestly that little less being judgmental toward myself and toward others. Feels feels pretty good and probably goes a long way toward my quality of life.
Stephanie Moram 20:00
Some of these situations, you know, not necessarily about what you're talking about, specifically the example you gave about baseball. But these are also opportunities for us to help impact and make change. Right. Like at the end of that party, I was like, How can I volunteer next year to maybe help them create less waste at this party? Is there a way that I could donate extra money so they get compostable plates and cutlery? And make sure the compost bin is there, ready available for them to put the pizza boxes? And all the, you know, the cutlery? That's all compostable? Like, I thought about that, after some like, Yes, I looked at that going, Oh, my gosh, that's a lot of ways. And we're a small town. I can't imagine what the rest of Quebec looks like, at these events, but it's again, stepping back. And okay. It is what it is, like we said that party was going to happen, whether I was there or not. But how can we be next year be different? Is there a way that I can maybe lower waste, like volunteer my time, and maybe donate a little bit of extra money? Because the organization maybe can't afford to get compostable plates, but hey, can I can I buy them for you? Can I volunteer to buy you plates. And then so next year, and then make sure that compost spinners is available. But then there's other situations where you just don't necessarily have any control. And like the baseball is going to happen, whether you're there or not. Right? And somebody else is going to sell the plastic water bottles, you know what I mean?
Stephanie Moram 21:27
So this also opens up, I feel like, it gets like the hamster moving sometimes in our brains of like, okay, this just happened, but maybe we can impact it have an impact in a positive way. Like if we're at a party, and it's our friend's party, and there's tons of waste, like, obviously not at the party. Hey, did you know that like, compost, like, just like, PS everybody that's like, not the time to bring up that stuff? That mom has done it and party for a month. And you know, let's do it like six months later or something. But it could just be, hey, I noticed that at your party, there was a lot of plastic cups, hey, I happen to have like 40 stainless steel cups, can I bring them and I'll take them home and wash them for you. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, this is just like a random example. Or, Hey, I happen to have, you know, a package of compostable plates at my house. Maybe you do, maybe you don't? Can I bring them to your party and I can I can help out? You know, if they're open to that, right. Some people might just not be open to that. And then you just you don't bring it up. But I feel like these opportunities can also be these opportunities can be opportunities for us, as sustainability advocates as green living advocates to make some change as well.
Amity Hook-Sopko 22:43
I think so too. I'm glad you said that. Because I guess it especially now as it's a little more forefront in people's mind, and reusable is a little more of a of a thing than you know, back when my kids started baseball, and I was the mom with orange slices. And it was the only one who didn't bring like, I can remember one time, my son opening some type of fruit roll up thing, and he could not distinguish the food part from the plastic. Like there was like a plastic thing that stuck to the fruit, whatever. And he didn't know which part that was like, you know, what, if you can't tell which part is food, we probably shouldn't eat that. But so it's been a honestly, it's been a while since I sort of like tried to be that mom, who was like, hey, what if we did this instead? Because I think I you know, it's been that was long ago, and and maybe people weren't receptive them. And so I just kind of got into this mindset of this is how it is put your blinders on? This is how it's going to be. And so yeah, I'm glad you said that, because it sort of reminds me like, you know, what if, what if, what if I can still bring up some more, you know, alternatives?
Stephanie Moram 24:00
Yeah, yeah, I think, you know, like I said, there's a time and a place, obviously, for everything, but it's, you know, volunteering at these events where you speak to the organizer and say, Hey, can I help with this? You know, can I offer my time to do this? Because you don't want it to make it complicated for people. Right? You don't want them to have to, like overthink too much. So that was kind of me, you know, at my party going, okay, how can the soccer is going to start in April? How can I be part of like, this committee, like weasel my way in? Yes. I'd be like, I wanted to know if and, you know, and you're also talking about the food and another good example is, like, we don't, we don't eat like popsicles, like freezies or anything like we do, but they're more like, either homemade or organic or whatever. And one of the moms brought freezies you know, to not every game but like a lot of the games the kids would have like a like a small Freezy and Jackson and my husband standing there. And he's like trying not to make eye contact.
Stephanie Moram 25:07
And I was just like, it is like, again, it is what it is. It's a small Freezy. And, you know, I like how you mentioned, Sarah snower was like, the parents had those conversations with their kids, you know, whether it's about how like food you're eating or sustainability, it's, you know, so it's easy to just like, listen to your body, when you've had too much of the freezer, you stop, you know, and they know, these are things that we don't buy at home, but they can have outside of the house. And I think that's also important as well, like, when you mentioned that, like, we can't be perfect all the time. And if we try to, like, we're gonna have like, I'm gonna have kids that as soon as they leave the house, they're gonna stuffed their face with like, 15 kit kats. Or, like, take all the plastic bags.
Amity Hook-Sopko 25:56
Yeah, it's like, it's, yeah, it's just like, any parent who's been who's been restrictive on anything. And then that's the first thing their kid wants to do, whether you know, whatever it is, so yeah.
Stephanie Moram 26:10
And I'm so guilty of that, like, when my kids were young, like, I mean, they're still nine and 12. But when they were really little, I was like, so restricted. And I would say, like, the last couple years, my daughter's like, Oh, what happened? I'm trying to like, I'm trying to help you guys navigate food, you know, like, I'm trying to help you navigate, you know, caring for the planet, you know, I'm trying to help you navigate these things. And if I am so restricted with you, you're gonna hate it when you're older. And I don't want you to hate it. I don't want you to eat kit kats for lunch, breakfast dinner, you know, and like, sugar all the time. So I'm gonna have to, we're going to have to come up with a compromise of what does that look like? Right?
Amity Hook-Sopko 26:53
Yeah, yeah. And I think I think there are just so many ways you can apply I guess we have talked a lot about food and, but I know I have one friend who is pretty hardcore zero waste are especially at home, they travel a lot. And so they do their best when they're traveling. But she was really impacted by that. And zero waste chefs. That quote she had about, we don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it, imperfectly. And so I know that she told me after that she's like, you know, one day, I really kind of went nuts in the grocery store, because I wanted chicken, but I forgot my own containers. And I couldn't buy the styrofoam. And I was I had to have it for a party or you know, something.
Amity Hook-Sopko 27:45
ut it sounds like okay, yeah, so it's not the end of the world that the one day, you know, she had to buy that, but it really frees you up. But again, like you said, if you're 100% happy, being 100%, zero waste, then go on with yourself, like keep it up. But if there is a time that happens that you're going to create so much more stress in your life, it's, it's not worth it. We we cancelled our Amazon Prime membership. And I sort of like made that, you know, like my battle cry or something at some point. And then my kids, you know, there's like this Lord of the Rings show, I've watched a little bit of it, but they wanted to see it. And they were like, We need Amazon Prime. And I'm like, like, I've been such a, you know, such a judgy person about not having this anymore. And I also don't want to teach my kids to like, you know, steal someone else's password or not steal, whatever, borrow whatever it is. And so I was like, Okay, so we'll renew amazon prime for a month or two, however long this eight episode show lasts, and it's not the end of the world. Like I'm also I'm not just supporting a billionaire who seems to be a jerk. I'm also supporting other people who make a living through there. And you know, and so that mean that is one thing, like, if you love if you love your Amazon Prime, but you realize like it's it's enabling you to buy like cheaper products and you know, a truck is coming to your house every day and you end up with that plastic thing that is not recyclable, I believe. Inside, then like, you can also do that, like you could 12 months out or 10 months out of the year, you can cancel it and you can get it in one month for this and like November for your holiday stuff and just shop to your heart's content. So, you know, there are just other ways of that, that a role like that can kind of help you still do some of the things that you want, even though you may not think they're the greatest things to do that. I think I also kind of use that in my closet like I really do my best to buy there's a great consignment store near me and so I like buy all my dresses. There's no sense in buying them. Like a brand new dress, because most people wear it once, and then they show up on Instagram in it. And they're like, get rid of this. So you find like the most amazing clothes and consignment. But every now and then you need this certain thing or this certain pair of shoes. And am I gonna go like hope it's a consignment? No, I'm probably going to go to the store that I know, is going to have it and save myself time by buying it new. So
Stephanie Moram 30:26
yeah, and I think we just all have to do the best that we can. Right? You know, I am not an Amazon fan, like negative 500. I don't buy from Amazon, but my husband does. He gets stuff from Amazon. He knows how I feel about Amazon. I dislike Amazon, I've done videos. But I can't control what he does. And I just, that's not a battle, I'm willing to fight, you know, and he's doing the best he can to not order from Amazon all the time. You know, like, I'd be like, Oh, can we get it somewhere else? If he says like, oh, I want to buy this, or I want to get this. I'm like, Oh, there's another website, we can get it from, you know, I could order it right now. Or, hey, we can go to the store and buy it. You don't have to order it. So it's doing those little things. But at the end of the day, like he wants to order from Amazon, I can't be like, No, we're not allowed to order from Amazon. Like he's allowed you if he wants and he always asked me Do you need anything? or Amazon? I'm like, no, the answer will always be No. answer is always no. I will find it somewhere else. But that's just me personally, just my my issue with Amazon. But I think it's again, like applies kind of the 80/20 rule where it's like, my husband does really really well in like the sustainability space with you know, trying to catch up to what I do and does a good job. You know, he when he buys clothing, you know, always looking for the ethical options, always looking for the organic cotton doesn't go to like a traditional store to buy his clothing, you know, or he wants a new running shoes on like all birds, all birds. Yeah. And he wasn't sure about them at first. And so he bought, you know, regular running shoes. And then he saw a pair of all birds that he loves. He's like, I need a second pair, because I'm running so much. I'm like, All birds, all birds. He's like, I'll try them now. So then he can see, oh, yeah, these sustainable ones actually do work just as well. So total tangent there. But I just think this 80/20 rule is just it's such a big topic and an important topic because I think we get so lost and it has to be perfect. Like we have to have a reasonable this all the time. We have to buy organic food 100% of the time, we can't buy chip bags, we can't like we can't do any of that because we're killing the planet, when if we would all just do a little bit of reducing our waste and living sustainably we'd probably be better off. Right?
Amity Hook-Sopko 32:54
And yeah, in a way, like go back to like the original like Pareto principle really, if we had 20% of the people like doing doing it, then it would it would even be so much bigger than it is. And even if like like zero a chef and says if everybody was doing it just so imperfectly just trying to shop bulk and you know, some of the steps and just avoiding the plastic water bottles, it would make such a huge difference. Yeah, I totally agree. Thank you so much for being on This has been a really great conversation. It's been really fun because it wasn't just 100% centered around sustainability was kind of you know, a conversation about like life and, you know, doing the best we can with like what we're given. And so it's been a great conversation, and I really appreciate you coming on and chatting with me. I love what you do. And I love how well you connect with people. You're just so relatable and so fun and, and sweet. And I know you take things very seriously, but you don't really come across as preachy. And it's so nice. It's really refreshing.
Stephanie Moram 33:58
Yeah, you didn't know me when I first started living green.
Amity Hook-Sopko 34:01
No, I know. It must be something about getting older. And we're both kind of know we now know a little bit because I used to be a little high strung too.
Stephanie Moram 34:08
Yeah, I was like super high strongly before we had kids. My husband's like, Okay, this is intense. Like, I can't buy that because there's plastic on I'm like, no, no, no.
Stephanie Moram 34:22
For more sustainability living inspirations. I mentioned before Episode 27 eco guilt. Just drop it you can check that out. And I did a great other interview called slow and easy living with Emily. You can check that out as well. It's episode 41. Please share this episode with your friends, your co workers mom, dad, uncles, cousins. Seriously anybody you think would enjoy this conversation or any other episode that I do have on the Green Junkie. You can stay connected with me on Instagram and Tiktok @thisisstephanimoram. And don't forget to subscribe to the Green Junkie podcast on your favorite platform and Amity, I would love for you to share where people can find you on social media. Okay, so our website is green child magazine.com. And all of our social handles our green child mag, or at Green child mag. And we have a little bit of everything, a lot of parenting content, some green living, we have these amazing guided meditation scripts that parents really love. I think there were almost up to 50 of them. They're written by a meditation and yoga expert, Melissa Dora Moy who she says an awesome job and you can read these scripts, they're like, they might be like a breathing exercise or like a fun adventure. You can kind of guide your child on they work really great at like naptime or bedtime, you get a lot of parents who tell us my kid was asleep before I even like counted down from five or how their kids love these certain, you know, stories like guided imagery. So if you have small kids, I definitely recommend that you find those there. They're all over our website. Perfect. Thank you and you can download my complimentary audio series. Everything we've talked about on the in this podcast episode will be linked in the description. So thank you for listening, and I'll see you next Tuesday Green Junkie.
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