Disclaimer: I know a lot of friends and family read this blog, and there’s a chance they’ll worry about me after reading this. If that’s you, please know that I’m okay and this blog post is just my way of telling people it’s okay to be imperfect.
Sometimes, life gets in the way of being the best we can be.
Choosing zero waste is a lot of work and there are definitely days when I don’t have the energy to be careful about my waste. Bad days.
So I order a pizza. Complete with getting someone else to drive a box filled with bread and meat and cheese all the way to my apartment. It’s delicious and soon I’m surrounded by nothing but a greasy slab of cardboard left on my table.
Then they come: the waves of regret and shame.
You see, when you’re immersed in something like zero waste, every day is a reminder of the effect we have on the world around us. If we make a wasteful decision and we’re already in a dark place, it’s easy to fixate. To forget that what’s happening inside us is just as important as what’s happening outside. To that, I have only one piece of advice:
Look out for number one.
My mom told me this all the time growing up. There was a time when I thought that this was bad advice to give a kid, but more and more I realize how essential it is to being a stable adult. Your mental and physical health can only thrive when you make taking care of yourself a priority. To this day, it blows my mind that some people don’t believe that. (Thanks, Mom!)
It took me a long time to stop thinking that putting my needs first = being selfish. Sure, they overlap sometimes, but conceptually they’re not synonymous. In fact, I am best equipped to help others and my environment when I am stable, healthy, and content.
Turns out, Maslow and my mom had a lot of similar perspectives on what a person’s priorities should be. Maslow’s official Hierarchy of Needs explains that we need to meet essential needs (food, shelter, and other survival stuff) before less-essential needs. And whaddya know: Self esteem needs come before self actualization. Pursuing something like a zero waste lifestyle usually falls around self-actualization.
Basically, I’m here to say you should go easy on that self esteem of yours. Bad days happen. Forgive yourself for any perceived green living sins you’ve committed and take the time to build yourself back up and start again. Chances are you’ll come out the other side more determined than ever.
P.S. These comments are solely to help those going through temporary moods. If you are chronically depressed, please seek out professional help. I am not a professional.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
“The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.”