Welcome back to the third week of our sustainability challenge. If you missed the first two weeks: Please refer to the links at the bottom of this post.
This week we are going to be watchers. Observers, you could say. We need to leave our ego behind this week and look at things without judgment or self-referential assessments.
I think you will enjoy this challenge. It is rewarding without the cost of uncomfortable change. It costs a bit more time than the first weeks though.
Week 3: Earth Consciousness
There are many ways that we can pass on our beliefs about caring for the Earth to those we love. With the Earth in the state that it is, we need to do everything we can to spread awareness among others. Let's do it.
Observe the Beauty in Nature
Go for walks alone, and with your friends and family. Observe the beauty of nature, and the diverse amount of wildlife that lives there. Find the surrounding beauty - whether you live near the beach, a forest, streams, or fields. Travel and see the way that other animals and wildlife live and survive. Grow to appreciate everything about the natural habitats that you see, including the climate, the flowers, and all the details around you.
We typically overlook most of the beauty around us; especially the beauty of things we see on a daily basis.
Get to Know Other Living Beings
In order for someone to care about the condition that the world is in and want to help the animals and other creatures that live within in, they must first be well acquainted with them and feel that they are connected.
Zoos are debated by many (Personally, I boycott them for over 20 years and watch Wrestling instead (; ) , but they might be an option if you have no other alternative to expose yourself to many animals.
Take your children out or explore alone and get to know the pets of friends and family. Teach your children all about wild animals and their needs. Read books about many varieties of animals and help your children learn as much about them as you can find information for.
Observe What Has Gone Wrong
Talk about the things you see that are not positive. You may notice that there is litter in the streams that the fish and birds live in. Maybe you see that the flowers the animals should be feasting on have been picked by pedestrians on the trails. You may notice pollution in the air that will surely come down and affect the life of the animals that live nearby.
Spend a minute thinking about the number of bees (and butterflies, for that matter) you see now as opposed to a few years ago.
Talk about the Link between Our Doings and the Outcomes
Find the link between how we behave and what effect it has on the world, including the animals and all wildlife. When you are looking for it, you will be able to see the correlation between our actions and what happens to the Earth and its inhabitants because of those actions.
Observe situations such as litter in the streams, and how trash can become wrapped around the necks of birds and water animals. Things that we may not even think about can have a hugely negative effect, so we must be aware of everything we do. Fortunately, this also applies to the positive actions we take. When we do something like work together as a team to clean up a natural habitat, the animals that live there has a much better chance of health and survival.
Recommended article: 8 Steps to Reduce your Plastic Waste
Caring for nature and animals comes naturally to most people, but we must re-connect. The more connected we are with the Earth, the less we will want to hurt it.
In these stressful times, where many people have lost the feeling for themselves, we need to relearn earth-consciousness. How perverted is that even, if you think about the very meaning of the word "nature".
Educate yourself and those around you so that you can work together to have a positive effect on the Earth. Your love for creatures big and small can go a long way. At the same time, you help yourself as you do these mindfulness exercises.
You can also help look after the Earth by supporting local and organic food growers like we discussed in Week 1.
Until next week!
If you missed the first two weeks, you can catch up here: