What we've learned.

So many times we encourage children to look back at a bad situation, or perhaps a bad reaction and reflect on what they’ve learned. We tell them to put aside the feelings (frustration, fear, heartbreak, etc.)and just determine the learning that came from it. It is difficult, sometimes almost impossible, especially if you are still in the midst of the storm. It is so important to take away something good, impactful, or learning experience from every situation.

With discussion of new "norms”, new perspectives, and new vigilance I am left wondering what that will look like?

I love sports, but it has been shown where the players’ value really lies when it really comes down to it. New professions have had the chance to shine, new heroes have emerged.

I love our modern conveniences but at what cost? Shutting down for a few months put a positive dent in our nasty environmental impact. Imagine what we could do if we really tried and focused on that (being kind to our planet).

I love being in the know but when you are getting news from multiple sources, with altering agendas, how do we ever really know?

I, unfortunately, I cannot do a lot about many of my lessons but I can continue to put my effort into educating the public about recycling, about the impact and positive changes YOU can make. I will continue to beg people to recycle with care and educate them about what that means. I will continue to post about the destruction and damage littering and waste does to our planet, environment, and all the creatures who reside. I will continue to share the beauty that is all around that is absolutely worth saving.

This is worth saving.

I've always been taught about conservation and making the most of what you have. It started from my grandparents and was more a way of life because of how hard they worked for every item they had. They didn't look at the world and think it needed saving but looked at their homes and it was ingrained that they needed to use what they had efficiently.

Most of us have seem to have lost that. Sometimes we are willing to give up reuse for ease, we are ready to throw away the bag instead of wash it out. We are all just so busy and just don't have the time. We work hard and long and the time we have off we don't want to waste. What if our outlook is all wrong? What if we taking the time to be more efficient meant we wouldn't need to work so hard? What if we realized what was really important and stopped trying to measure our success by the things that we had?

I wish I had all the answers; I wish it was always that simple. I digress, as I look at my children playing outside; enjoying the beautiful nature around them I cannot help but reflect on what I have done to keep it that way. I hope you'll do the same.