I love music! By no means is this anything unique, but I just wanted to share that I feel such euphoria when I have some choice tunes blastin' through the speakers. Music is such a wonderful art to appreciate on many levels and in most all occasions. There aren't many hours in the day when I don't have something playing on the computer or from my iPod. I really don't understand how people can live without music in their daily lives as I feel they are missing out on so much talent and beauty. Music truly does provide the soundtrack to our lives and I feel it can have such a positive effect on each one of us - from an unborn child to the oldest of grandparents.
When I first wake in the morning it is such a joy to turn on some fun beats and get my day going with uplifting tunes. There are few better ways to start the day than with a smile and appreciation for the talents of others. With such a great variety of music out there I feel everyone can find numerous artists who will feed one's soul and fill one's heart with happiness and good vibes. Whatever your choice may be, when you are filled with such good energy, not only will you be in a better mood but you will be radiating this outward for others to embrace as well.
Recently I have made it a habit to take my iPod with me whenever I head out the door for a trip through town. Regardless of the destination, I find my journey much more enjoyable with music in my ears. A lot of times I'm heading out on my bike, be it for a long leisurely ride around town to enjoy the Charleston sunshine or a 10 minute ride up to Cypress Street. However, my favorite time to bust out the iPod is when I take Riley for a walk downtown. While there are many reasons why it is now a regular activity to put on some dancin music and hit the streets with my best friend, two stand out the most.
For one, listening to music makes me smile. And when I walk down the street with a huge smile on my face, it's a lot easier for strangers to smile in return (unless of course you live in NYC, in which case people think you are a weird creep for smiling at them, let alone looking at them in the first place). A smile is the easiest gift to share with others and you never know how much someone else might appreciate the simple gesture. With each smile you send love, kindness and positive energy to those around you - and we all can use more of those things.
Secondly, having music flow through my body makes me move with an added bounce to my step. I've got my head bobbin, my hands moving and I'm light on my feet. I feel as though I'm no longer walking but instead dancing down the street. The movement alone from dancing is another great way to fill one's body with good energy, and I think others pick up on this as they pass by. Even Riley seems to be lighter on his feet and in a happier mood as we head down the streets of Charleston.
Now, with a smile on the face and a bounce in the step, it is virtually impossible to not enjoy one's self. To make things even more enjoyable, I like to take my time and really explore Charleston on these walks. Even though I have walked these streets numerous times, I feel it is nice to have no set route and "get lost" in my own town. I try to take different routes each walk and get somewhere without ever really knowing where I am going. One of the best ways to do this is to literally take the signs as they come. If I get to an intersection I usually go whichever way has the "Walk" sign showing and take the path of least resistance. It's nice to let go of control a bit and have the Universe lead me forward. You never know what experiences you may have, what sights you might see or what person may come into your life.
I strongly encourage everyone to take the time to explore their own town too and to do so in as happy a mood as possible. Put on some great music and let it fill your body with peace, joy, kindness, love and positive energy. Forget your worries and notice all the beauty that exists in life. Take all of this and share it with others through a smile or acknowledgment of some kind. It's amazing what one can feel from the brief connection made with eye-contact and a smile. We all are of one family, one being, so love and respect everyone in life with infinite peace and kindness. Spending time each day in this manner has the potential for many great things and one might start to see the commonplace in a bright new light for the first time.
As a suggestion, some of my favorite artists to listen to while dancing down the street are: The New Deal, Pretty Lights, Shpongle, Telepath, Eliot Lipp, and Sounds From The Ground. I recommend everyone check them out (and buy a CD) and I hope to see you smiling on the streets some time soon :)
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Really Plastic? Really??
There has to be a solution to our plastic problem in life. You know, the problem of having EVERYTHING come in or with some form of plastic. I mean, it is a little ridiculous to see just how much plastic there really is. And most all of this is just plastic waste that has a very short intended life/purpose before it gets discarded. The worst part of it all is that plastic does not go away.
Sure, we don't see it any more, but it's still out there. Any plastic that is not recycled or repurposed just sits buried in the ground doing nothing! It does not break down like paper products or other organic matter - it just sits and waits. What does it wait for? Well, at some point somebody in the future is going to be digging in the ground (say, to plant an organic garden) and they are going to find this plastic that has been waiting. By this time it may have separated into smaller pieces, but it is all still there - only now it is a lot harder to clean up.
I have witnessed this problem first hand recently as I entered into the dark underbelly of my house's crawl space. I knew there was a lot of trash to clean out from first looks - I mean, a couple tires are easy to see, but I never expected to find so much plastic. While the soda and water bottles were fairly easy to pick out and put in the recycling bin (it's never too late - see photo below) it was all of the wrappers and bags that were far more difficult to remove. Just finding them is hard enough as they have become buried in the ground over the years. With each rain the crawl space of the house would flood with water and when it finally went away, the plastic would settle further and further into the mud. The plastic has also become entwined in the far-reaching roots of various plants that have spread out along the ground. As I pull up each group of roots I am greeted to an unnatural crinkle sound only to pull out some wasted food bag. I don't know how long some of this waste has been under the house, but I venture some items have been there as long as I've been alive.
While it is not the easiest thing for one to control the use of plastic in the world today, it is VERY EASY to control what one does with the plastic acquired. To me, the best way to combat the plastic problem is to follow the advice we have all heard many times: Reduce - Reuse - Recycle. These steps are listed in priority, as the first way one can help is to simply acquire less plastic; reduce your use. Stop using plastic bags when shopping (there is no excuse not to have numerous reusable bags by now, at least for the grocery store); avoid purchasing items that come individually wrapped and instead buy in bulk; invest in a reusable water bottle and stop buying the bottled water (even if you live in SoCal where the water does suck). I could go on with ways to acquire less plastic, but I think the point is made clear - use your purchasing power to buy less.
The next step to take is to reuse. So you forgot your reusable bags at home and are stuck with a plastic shopping bag, assuming you bought more than you can just carry by hand. It happens, but make a point to find another use for these bags. All you dog owners can come up with at least one use for them, but the bags also work great for lining small trash cans in the bathroom or bedroom. Plastic bottles can be used for arts and crafts projects, and turned into such things as beautiful flowers. Lastly, if you still end up with some plastic, please at least recycle it. I know no one is perfect, but if everyone made a conscious effort to be more aware of their choices/habits, I think we will all be living in a much better place.
Even if you are very responsible with your plastic, it's clear that not everyone else is. With that in mind, next time you see plastic (or any litter) on the ground, please spend the 3 seconds to stop, pick it up, and dispose of it properly. For those of us who live near a body of water, a lot of litter left on the ground ends up in our local river, ocean, harbor, lake, etc. Nobody wants this, but then again, nobody really wants to go around picking up trash after other people. Regardless, make the decision to be a better person and help keep this planet a great place to live. We really do only have one place to live, and as we already are witnessing, a lot of little waste can really add up.
Sure, we don't see it any more, but it's still out there. Any plastic that is not recycled or repurposed just sits buried in the ground doing nothing! It does not break down like paper products or other organic matter - it just sits and waits. What does it wait for? Well, at some point somebody in the future is going to be digging in the ground (say, to plant an organic garden) and they are going to find this plastic that has been waiting. By this time it may have separated into smaller pieces, but it is all still there - only now it is a lot harder to clean up.
I have witnessed this problem first hand recently as I entered into the dark underbelly of my house's crawl space. I knew there was a lot of trash to clean out from first looks - I mean, a couple tires are easy to see, but I never expected to find so much plastic. While the soda and water bottles were fairly easy to pick out and put in the recycling bin (it's never too late - see photo below) it was all of the wrappers and bags that were far more difficult to remove. Just finding them is hard enough as they have become buried in the ground over the years. With each rain the crawl space of the house would flood with water and when it finally went away, the plastic would settle further and further into the mud. The plastic has also become entwined in the far-reaching roots of various plants that have spread out along the ground. As I pull up each group of roots I am greeted to an unnatural crinkle sound only to pull out some wasted food bag. I don't know how long some of this waste has been under the house, but I venture some items have been there as long as I've been alive.
While it is not the easiest thing for one to control the use of plastic in the world today, it is VERY EASY to control what one does with the plastic acquired. To me, the best way to combat the plastic problem is to follow the advice we have all heard many times: Reduce - Reuse - Recycle. These steps are listed in priority, as the first way one can help is to simply acquire less plastic; reduce your use. Stop using plastic bags when shopping (there is no excuse not to have numerous reusable bags by now, at least for the grocery store); avoid purchasing items that come individually wrapped and instead buy in bulk; invest in a reusable water bottle and stop buying the bottled water (even if you live in SoCal where the water does suck). I could go on with ways to acquire less plastic, but I think the point is made clear - use your purchasing power to buy less.
The next step to take is to reuse. So you forgot your reusable bags at home and are stuck with a plastic shopping bag, assuming you bought more than you can just carry by hand. It happens, but make a point to find another use for these bags. All you dog owners can come up with at least one use for them, but the bags also work great for lining small trash cans in the bathroom or bedroom. Plastic bottles can be used for arts and crafts projects, and turned into such things as beautiful flowers. Lastly, if you still end up with some plastic, please at least recycle it. I know no one is perfect, but if everyone made a conscious effort to be more aware of their choices/habits, I think we will all be living in a much better place.
Even if you are very responsible with your plastic, it's clear that not everyone else is. With that in mind, next time you see plastic (or any litter) on the ground, please spend the 3 seconds to stop, pick it up, and dispose of it properly. For those of us who live near a body of water, a lot of litter left on the ground ends up in our local river, ocean, harbor, lake, etc. Nobody wants this, but then again, nobody really wants to go around picking up trash after other people. Regardless, make the decision to be a better person and help keep this planet a great place to live. We really do only have one place to live, and as we already are witnessing, a lot of little waste can really add up.
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