Skip to main content

You're a Lazy Waster

I just have a few thoughts on wasters. Wasters are people who waste water, food, energy, time, money or anything really. This is opposed to efficiency geeks. Efficiency geeks are getting things done in a timely manner and not f**king around or WASTING anything.

Each year I grow older, I realize that I have a responsibility as a human on this planet. I learn something new that changes my belief patterns or how I go about my day. I take this new knowledge and I really, really try as hard as I can to change and better myself, and the world, in any way that I possibly can. I can't ignore this knowledge. I feel that if I ignore this knowledge, or stay ignorant by not furthering my education, that I am letting myself down, I am letting all of you down and I am letting the environment down.

After living in California for a year and the Virgin Islands for 5 months, I have realized what a precious resource water is. Growing up in WI, we didn't really have to worry about it as much as other places but it is still precious, no matter where you are. Now, I cringe whenever someone leaves the sink running for a second too long or an anger builds up inside me when water is just allowed to go down the drain... How can someone not know what it takes for us to be allowed drinking water? How can someone just let water go unused down the drain? Water is so precious. It is an amazing resource that we are so lucky to be given. We are lucky. Think about what you're doing.

Now food. I watched a documentary this summer about food waste and if you've heard this rant before, sorry, not sorry. The thing that gets wasted most in this country is food. So much good, un-eaten food just goes to the dump and thats not ok. At the end of the day restaurants/grocery stores put food in the dumpsters that isn't bad, the problem is that the unregulated "sell by" date is from today... apparently they "have to" throw it out and not give it to people in need because it could cause legal problems. So, how many legal problems have occurred in the last 5 years from giving away food to the homeless? Zero. Thats right, its not even an issue, people are just too lazy to figure out how to not produce so much damn waste. And grocery stores and restaurants are not just to blame. We are too. Families throw away more food each year than they eat. That is absolutely ridiculous. Im no angel here but I try to make sure that all my food gets eaten or is given to animals or composted. Un-composted food  creates more methane that contributes to climate change from being in the dump than our cars do. Yup, worried about gas-guzzlers? I'd worry about your food thats in the garbage.
But do worry about your gas-guzzler too because there you're just wasting gas... and also, do you NEED to drive everywhere? I mean come on and walk to the damn store some time or get some exercise on your bike. There is more than one way to get from point A to point B than driving all the damn time... Yes, I dont have a car. Yes, Im still alive.

Something that goes along with food is money. I want to talk about voting with your money. What you spend your money on does make a HUGE difference. I hate when people save one dollar buy buying the horrible franchised company's food over the local organic option. Its ONE DOLLAR, put that dollar towards making a difference. Local foods/products are more healthy, better for the local economy and generally more delicious because they aren't chemically manufactured and shipped long distances. Im not just talking about foods here. Being ignorant about what you're buying is not an excuse. You are a consumer and as a consumer you shouldn't just buy something, anything blindly. Look at labels, learn about good and bad companies, and figure out if you are putting your money towards a beneficial company or a degrading one. Ill help you:  http://www.betterworldshopper.org/topten.html
VERY BAD: Kraft, Nestlee, Exxon-Mobil, Version, General Electric
VERY GOOD: Seventh Generation, Amy's, Patagonia, Dr. Bronner's, New Belgium Brewing

Time. I hate it when people waste valuable time. I understand relaxation but I get annoyed when people just sit around and wait for something to happen to them. Go out and make your own impact on the world! Its time to go outside and move. Its time to get your perfect job or figure out what that perfect job is. Its time, RIGHT NOW, to see your friends and family across the globe. Its time to start that exercise routine or to just be active.  Get moving!! You can do it! Not tomorrow, not next week, NOW, because next week will always be next week. Tomorrow will always be tomorrow. When you start today, things are put into momentum and get done. Whenever someone admits their jealousy for my ability to travel I tell them that they can do it too. Then come the excuses... There is no excuse. I made no excuse for myself and I did it, I continue to do it. You should be so kind to yourself. Dont wake up at age 60 and regret all you didnt do. Cause I assure you, it will happen if you dont utilize your time. Dont waste time.

Alright. I felt like these things needed to be said. It drives me NUTS when people waste in more ways than one. We dont have time on this earth to waste and we should all do our part to be as efficient as possible. Dont be a lazy waster, be a logical, informed efficiency greek. Then, things will start to get better. Thank you.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Red = Passion

Yesterday, I had a shit-eating grin as I was winding through local streets, pedaling and feeling the warm breeze in my hair. I recently, in the last month, moved to the DC area and have been struggling to fit in and find my place. This month, Ty and I got our own room in a place that we share with a few others that are our roommates in our new town. But there are still so many things that are missing in my life. I need yoga, rock climbing and freedom to get around on my own. On Tuesday afternoon, I took that first step at transportation freedom in the form of a two wheeled vehicle. I took the metro to Virginia which is a bit of a ride from my new home on the Maryland side. I stopped at one of the last metro stops and walked out into the sunny, nice weather. I was meeting someone from craigslist who was selling a little, red Schwinn bike. I exited the station and immediately saw the little red bike being held up by a sweet looking, older man. I introduced myself, took the bike for a...

Runners High

At 12:30pm, I stepped outside for the first time all day. I hadn't really even left my room until I realized that if I didnt go outside, I probably would bum it all afternoon. I put my running shoes on and bounced outside. I started walking and after I got myself settled, I started to run. After being cooped up, those first few steps of an outdoor run is so magical. The feeling of freedom, fresh air and adrenaline is fantastic. I always have a mad smile and excitement for being able to move so fast. After my first few minutes of running, thats when the exhaustion sets in. What keeps me going longer, is adventure. Do I like running? Not really. Do I enjoy exploring? Obviously. I decided to check out a new part of the power line trail that I have not seen before and ran up the hills, or on straight path, and walked down hills. I went to the beginning of the trail and back again, smiling at the other people who were also out for their afternoon walk/bike. The sun came out and it...

Giant Galapagos Tortoises

Because we practically didn't sleep for two days in a row, we slept in and had a slow morning. Well, other people slept in. I was wide awake at 7:15 am and was too excited to lay in bed till 8. So I got up and did yoga on our second story patio. The sun, which was struggling to come out behind some wispy clouds, felt amazing on my skin and the warm air was exactly what I had needed that morning. I got my heart pumping a bit and then jumped on the bed to wake Ty up. "We're in the Galapagos! Get up, get up, get up!" We were waiting for our travel companions to join us for breakfast and a morning exploring the Charles Darwin Research Center, but they never came so we went off to get some of the "best coffee in the Galapagos" and slowly meander through the Research Station, hoping they would join later. Little did we know, Jake was passed out until 11am! He was sick though and needed it to feel healthy for the rest of the trip! We took our time reading the s...