Tag: positive energy

Start From Where you Are!

Yes, we all can make a difference. Small changes can lead to big changes.

A great thought for the day. How can we have more control? The world can be a discouraging place. Especially when we have elected officials that are taking us in the wrong direction and wasting taxpayer dollars. The only thing we have control of is our own behavior, and instead of being angry we can use that energy to make a positive difference. Below are some ways you can make a positive impact without much effort. Good Luck. Below is from the Carbon Almanac:

When countries and companies lessen their commitment to targets and activities for climate change, it can be disheartening as systemic change is critical for big impact. If you feel powerless to influence systemic change, you can start where you are.

Some ideas of how to start:

  • Start by having a conversation with friends
  • Start by taking one less trip in a combustion engine vehicle
  • Start by shopping at a thrift store
  • Start by buying produce that is not wrapped in plastic
  • Start by bringing a reusable mug to your favourite cafe
  • Start by finding a local environmental group

And my list to get you started:

*Always carry reusable shopping bags

*Never idle the engine of your car

*Write letters to elected officials and newspapers expressing your opinion (positive and negative)

*Plant a native plant or a native tree

*Listen, smile and be kind

The key is to start (or keep) taking action. One action can lead to another and then another. And by sharing what you are doing, you can inspire others to join.

Make People Happy

“I want to make people smile”

An eight year old boy in Ohio has a complement stand. His goal is to make people smile. Read about it below.

https://replica.startribune.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=9eacb446-7c71-4386-852d-84b429bef9e1

Give complements or just smile on your walk today. Our world needs a smile.

Enjoy the beauty of our earth.

Smile

Refresh

It has been a hard week in the United States. The election of Donald Trump has created an exhausted public full of fear and sadness.

Don’t let this president-elect drag us down. Like VP Harris said, “Fill the sky with a billion stars!”

Everyday spend time outside, expend positive energy and kindness, and do something positive for the Earth. Drive less, eat less meat, and use less plastic.

Make telling the truth a priority. Always tell the truth and insist everyone around you tell the truth. Never share ideas that might not be true.

Take a deep breath and take care of yourself. Reduce your social media exposure, smile, be kind and love our earth.

He and SHE seeks!

Try this: When anxiety or overwhelm creeps in, step outside for a 10-minute nature break. Notice the clouds drifting overhead, listen for birdsong, or simply feel the breeze on your face. Even in the heart of the city, a nearby park’s grass and trees can provide this natural reset.

Let nature amplify your joy – whether that’s watching a spectacular sunset, watching a bird or finding a beautiful tree.

We need to go through the stages of grief, and everyone deals with grief at different rates. Give people space. Our values have been rejected and it takes time to come to grips with such a big loss. Read about the stages of grief here.

Please work for peace, harmony and joy for yourself and those around you

Find a beautiful tree

Enjoy and protect nature.

PEACE

Dear President Biden

On the Fourth of July it is my duty to speak out!

Thank you, President Biden for your leadership and for all the years you have been in congress, vice president and president. You have a fabulous legacy of accomplishments, and I thank you many times over.

The Democrats all want to stay on the same page and be team players, but this is such a serious time they need to speak up. I need to express what my friends, family and the American voter is feeling.

We are in a frightening presidential election. The damage Donald Trump will do for the world and the environment is beyond our ability to imagine, and you know that!  Also, the new Supreme Court decisions make it even more imperative that we win this election.

We all deal with age issues. Our backs go out, our knees and shoulders fall apart, and we forget things we don’t want to forget! Unless we are in pain we can deny aging to some extent. We deny that our energy level isn’t what it used to be, and we pretend we haven’t changed.  Unfortunately, age issues don’t get younger. Instead, we need to move to the gratitude stage where we are thankful for all that has been and that we still have the chance to move forward.

We have gratitude, but we also have wisdom. Wisdom is our strength as we age! With all that is going on in the world we need individuals with more energy and new vision at the helm. Our wisdom tells us it is time to step aside for new positive leadership.

Thank you for your service. Now decide governing is more important than running for election. Pass the torch to the future and continue your amazing legacy and try to end these awful wars and continue to protect our precious environment. With gratitude.

The presidency is a very hard job. Thank you, President Biden.

Fight for our democracy!

August Actions

“If you are not doing something positive (for the environment) you are part of the problem” Don Shelby, former news anchor

If everyone does a positive Earth action everyday it will make a big difference

peace on earth

Lift up our planet!

We all know the Earth is suffering, it is burning up. Floods, wildfires, record temperatures, and storms are harming many people. A sick planet leads to unhealthy sick people and for long-term consequences for our children. 

Every day in August plan a positive action of kindness for our planet. It doesn’t have to be difficult: Pick up a piece of trash. Bring your reusable bags and your reusable cup/bottles to work and shopping. Maybe decide to drive less by running one less errand or not idling your car. How about a plastic- free day? Maybe use up all your leftovers and waste less food. Maybe plan out a deep-rooted pollinator garden for your yard or clean a storm drain. Maybe have a meatless day? Good Luck and thank you!

More ideas here:

100 Things You Can Do to Save the Planet | Sierra Club 

17 Ridiculously Easy Things You Can Do To Help Save The Earth Every Day | HuffPost Impact

Historic Senate Climate Deal Would Reduce Emissions 40% By 2030 –

EcoWatch  10 Things You Can Do to Help Save the Earth | HowStuffWorks

The Actions for Happiness group have ideas for kindness. Be kind and include our planet too!

Be kind to our Earth too!

What did you do to help our planet today?

Plant Flowers Loved by Bees and Butterflies

I love the bee yards that are popping up in my neighborhood. Homeowners are getting the message that turf grass yards are food deserts for pollinators. Our bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and moths have been devastated by habitat loss and excess chemical use. We can all make a simple difference by planting a few plants for them.

As we celebrate World Bee Day make an effort to add some pollinator environment to your yard. Native plants are the best because they have deep roots and don’t need watering or chemicals. I don’t trust some plants from garden stores, I worry about what they could have been sprayed and treated with?? We don’t want to plant for bees and butterflies only to add more chemicals to their bodies! Shop garden shops that can answer your questions. Native plants should be chemical free. Everyday we have an impact on our community, make it positive.

The reading list below has good suggestions for bee lawns. Bee balm, wild geranium, culvers root, milkweed, cone flowers, asters, and Joe Pye weed are some of my favorites for attracting both bees and butterflies.

Bee Balm

A garden workhorse for pollinators

Joe Pye Weed

Cone flowers

Bees like yellow flowers

Native plants have deep roots.

Reading List:

6 Ways to Transform Your Lawn Into an Eco-Friendly Oasis – EcoWatch

How to Turn Your Yard Into an Ecological Oasis | YES! Magazine (yesmagazine.org)

Angelina Jolie Raises Pollinator Awareness With Bee-Covered Portrait – EcoWatch 

Pollinator Lawn – Blue Thumb

Bee Lawns | Bee Lab (umn.edu)

To Help Save Bumble Bees, Plant These Flowers in Your Spring Garden – EcoWatch

Why You Should Grow a Lawn for Bees (treehugger.com)

http://www.queenofthesun.com/get-involved/10-things-you-can-do-to-help-bees/ 

Pollinator Garden Plants and Practices | Habitat Network (yardmap.org)

Gardening for Wildlife with Native Plants (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) 

30 Unique Plants That Attract Butterflies (treehugger.com)

Optimistic Outside October

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Anne Frank

None of us knows the future, and at this moment in time it is hard not to be fearful about it. We can’t shake this awful pandemic, and we are in the middle of an important election. The next month is full of uncertainty. We have leaders scaring us about the future and telling us the” Mob” and violence are going to take over. Some elected officials share lies and conspiracy theories. They say they won’t follow the rules and leave office if they don’t win? With all this what is there to be afraid of?

I got several pieces of mail this week telling me the “Mob” is taking over if I don’t vote for certain candidates? Who is this mob? Does frightening people get you to vote for them? I hope not. I wonder if I am part of the “Mob” because I want equal rights, justice, clean air and water for everyone? Confusion and fear are the goals of these people. Our mental and physical health are both at stake with this silly rhetoric.  Don’t listen to it!

We must do better than this. Choose instead to be hopeful and optimistic. Don’t feed this fear, instead feed optimism. Start each day with a positive action. See some ideas below. Also, everyday get outside and enjoy the beauty of October.

 When you are optimistic you and look at your days with hope instead of fear. Optimism wins and helps you see beyond fear for a better future and a better world. The Actions for Happiness group has thirty-one suggestions and ideas to help us be optimistic. See their ideas below:

https://www.actionforhappiness.org/media/922208/october_2020.jpg

Wishing you an optimistic and outside October!

Actions for Kindness

Every act of kindness creates a ripple, spread it now.

Be Kind

Everyday is a new day, and only you can decide how positive your day will be. Take charge, be kind, show respect and enjoy everyday. September is self-care month, and I think some of the best things you can do for yourself is spending time outside in nature, and being kind to others. I hope September is a good month for you. My actions for kindness follow, and The Action for Happiness September Calendar is below.

These are my September Actions for Happiness and Kindness!

Sundays:  Super Kindness Sunday! What can you do to show people they are special and you are thinking of them?

Mondays: Make It Respectful Monday! Demand people show you respect, and show them respect back. Aim high, never gossip, lie, bully or make fun of people. Compliment, and active listen.

Tuesdays: Good Thoughts Tuesday!  Give yourself a boost of positive energy. Enjoy the day and have fun. Turn off politics, Facebook and Twitter.

Wednesdays: Zero Waste Wednesday! Bring your lunch, use only reusable dishes, glasses and utensils. Cook your dinner, no take-out, and no wasted food! If possible leave your car at home. Have fun being good to the Earth!

Thursdays: Thankful Thursday!  Think of all the people you are thankful for. How many times you can say, “Thank you.”

Fridays: Listen/Friendship Friday! Check in with an old friend or make a new friend. Listen and ask questions.

Saturdays: Smile Saturday! How many times can you smile today? Have fun, it’s Saturday.

Everyday: Self-Care September