Do Something Little, Help Something Big

Source: vol25.typepad.com via Jenn on Pinterest

Have you ever wanted to make a positive change in your life, but just didn't know where to start? I think we probably all have, because often CHANGE can be daunting at best. We tend to look for the end, the the product, the proof -- instead of the small steps we can take to get there.

I've been thinking a lot about making up a list of Goals For A Sustainable Life... something a little more concrete than the ongoing one in my head. I've mentioned several times my desires for a more sustainable lifestyle, and lately I've been taking more and more steps toward making this a reality. I believe in taking things one step at a time, and making changes which will truly benefit myself, my daughter, and this earth.

As fate would have it, I was recently asked to participate in the Do Something Little, Help Something Big campaign, to help spread the word about making big impacts through small changes. Energizer Canada, in partnership with Evergreen (a fabulous non-profit dedicated to creating more sustainable Canadian cities), has donated $100K to help make cities more livable all across our great nation. To promote this message, I've put together a list of Five Kind Acts which I will put to motion in my life to benefit my family, community & environment.

Stop Using Shampoo
I've mentioned this one a few times, and I'm really ready to take the plunge. I will be following a recipe very similar to my friend Jenn, who blogs over at The Organic Heretic. (And yes, I'll blog about it!)

Use Family Cloth
At the end of September, I stopped buying toilet paper. Honestly. I can't even begin to think about how much less waste we'll be creating by using a cloth substitute. Check out this post over at Penniless Parenting to learn more about reusable toilet paper.

Raise Free Range Backyard Chickens
I still haven't told the whole story behind my seven adorable chickens, but they came to me at the beginning of May, and I'm now basking in the glory of about 3-7 eggs each day. Amazing. They taste fantastic, the chickens take care of weeds/bugs in my yard, and Gretchen adores them. Win, win, win.

Spread Positivity
Even when I'm feeling down, I know that bumming around and feeling down on myself is never the answer. I vow to be the voice of positivity for my chosen family, and to help others stay positive no matter what they're facing.

Bike Everywhere
My daughter and I are masters of the Schwinn/Chariot combo. Due to the fact that owning a car costs about 10x what I can afford, we bike (nearly) everywhere -- downtown, grocery shopping, to the park, for fun. There's almost nowhere I need to go, that I can't get to via my beautiful, red cruiser. And my legs are stronger than ever! Can't beat that, mes amis.

In addition to spreading a message of change, Energizer will also donate $1 for every pledge that you make and post on their site, NowThatsPositivEnergy.ca! Hop on over now to share your goals.

Disclosure: I am participating in the Energizer Canada & Evergreen “Do Something Little, Help Something Big” program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Energizer Canada & Evergreen. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. As always, the opinions on this blog are my own.