In high school, I started calling myself an environmentalist. I believed every small action mattered. I still do. But over the years that belief has shifted. It has grown deeper, more nuanced, and more complicated.
In the early 2000s, I read No Impact Man, a blog about one person’s attempt to live with zero environmental impact. I stopped using plastic bags and straws. I avoided bottled water and started packing groceries in reusable jars. At the time, those choices felt like powerful statements. They still feel meaningful, though the reasons have changed.
Today, I see things differently. The dog my family loves likely contributes more to our household carbon footprint than all the plastic I’ve ever avoided. One flight to a conference or retreat can outweigh years of careful recycling and composting. The scale of the climate crisis overwhelms easy answers, and it’s easy to feel like individual efforts barely register.
And yet, I continue. Each July, I participate in Plastic Free July, a global movement to reduce single-use plastic. I’ve taken part each year since 2022. I’ve written about it, reflected on what works and what doesn’t, and shared how the challenge shaped my habits. Now I invite you to consider joining me.
I don’t share this because I think perfection matters. I don’t believe a plastic-free lunch will save the planet. But I keep showing up for this challenge because it helps me stay grounded in my values. I believe in ahimsa, the practice of living gently and causing less harm. I try to follow asteya, taking only what I need. I cultivate tapas, the discipline of choosing what matters, again and again.
Participating in Plastic Free July has shaped my daily choices, both during the month of July and after. I bike to my local food co-op when I can and bring my own containers. I’ve become more consistent about buying oats, rice, and other staples in bulk. These shifts didn’t happen overnight, but over time, they became part of how I move through the world. More than that, I’ve seen my actions ripple outward. Mentioning Plastic Free July at Lullabot has already led some of my coworkers to take the pledge. Sharing my habits in yoga classes sparked conversations that led others to explore new practices.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world, maybe this can be one small place to begin. Not because it will solve everything, but because it can help you come into relationship with your choices. It can offer a way to move from paralysis to participation, from guilt to curiosity, from isolation to connection.
This path is not about purity. It’s not about getting it right. It’s about noticing. It’s about choosing to refuse, and finding presence in that choice. If this resonates, I hope you’ll take the pledge and see what unfolds.
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