Turn a negative into a positive every day

Every negative presents us with the opportunity to change, react with dignity, or just grow stronger. If everyone immediately reacted to the unavoidable negatives with a plan to turn that negative to something productive, what a wonderful world we would have.
Posted by Michelle - 26.08.2008 Action: Send us an action

Cycle to Work

I now cycle to work and feel fitter for it!
Posted by Barb - 26.08.2008

We've been here since 1963

I've just had a chat with one of my neighbours. Her name is Sheila and she told me that she and her husband moved here in 1963. There is a house in between her house and mine. Marcia lives there now, but up until 1974, it was an orchard.
I hardly ever talk to Sheila. Not for any particular reason, you understand, but we just don't seem to bump into each other.
But this afternoon I was putting out the garden recycling wheelie bin and I had the time for a chat. I didn't have to think about being anywhere else. I could just be. By the time I came back into my house, I felt that I'd enjoyed a little history lesson about my road.
My house was converted into two flats in the seventies (Sheila remembers it well) and I think I'm still using the seventies style bathroom that must have been put in around that time (it's turquoise).
Talking to Sheila made me think that you don't always need to go to a library or get googling when you want to know more about the history of where you live.
You can just have a chat with someone older than you or someone who has lived there longer than you.
Thank you Sheila!
Posted by Minos - 26.08.2008 Action: Spend time with someone from a different generation

Dump plastic bags?

I just dumped all my plastic bags... at my local library. They seemed very grateful! I also sometimes give any plastic bags I have to charity shops. That way, they don't clog up my kitchen (or hopefully a landfill site) and get re-used by someone else...
Posted by Maboeln - 26.08.2008 Action: Decline plastic bags wherever possible.

Calculate your carbon footprint

I calculated my carbon footprint using www.carbonfootprint.com, and was quite pleased at how close I was to the world target, although I'm still over a ton off. I feel quite confident I can cut down with simple steps like changing my lightbulbs to energy efficient ones and walking to work, rather than taking the train - fingers crossed, that will cover get fitter, feel better, too, provided I don't collapse on the way home!
;-)
Posted by Maboeln - 25.08.2008 Action: Calculate your carbon footprint

Salute the Sun every morning

As a yoga teacher, my top tip to everyone would be to learn to do the Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar) and practice it at least once every morning. It's surprising how many people don't stretch properly before they start the day - and yet you wouldn't not stretch before a workout! It doesn't matter whether your job involves sitting down at a desk all day or lifting, carrying, walking, etc, it's always good to warm the body up and keep the spine flexible and strong. Learning a few simple desk exercises for the eyes, neck and shoulders can also cut down on headaches and tension.

I'd also recommend adding a back twist and side bend to a morning routine - and all three can take less than five minutes to do, can be done when you're half asleep (trust me!), make you feel good and keep you trim and young. (Obviously, don't do this suggestion unless you know you're fit and healthy or have checked with your doctor first).

Taking a moment to connect with your body and regulate your breathing is always a good thing to try - and for a mere five minutes every morning, what have you got to loose?
Posted by Maboeln - 24.08.2008 Action: Send us an action

Plastic Cups...

I'm currently doing a work placement in my training centre as a support receptionist, and i was inspired to take on the action "Use a Mug not a plastic cup" but the company only has a vending machine which served pre-packaged cups of tea and coffee, i've brought in my own mug but need to use 2 plastic cups to fill it, so i feel better for not using the mugs but conscious that i've had to dispense those two mugs in the first place, and so hampering my good intentions.

How can I get round it?
Posted by Daniel - 21.08.2008 Action: Use a mug not a plastic cup

Rubbish/Litter

Hello,

not only is rubbish a problem, but litter also in our city. Empty paper cups, plastic bags, newspaper blowing around, kleenex, plastic pop and water bottles in the gutter or on the lawn. One piece of litter attacts another. Whereever I walk, I have some plastic grocery bags with me and tongs to pick these items up and put them in my trash or the trash boxes the city provides. Good exercise and keeps my neighborhood looking good and sometimes someone else gets motivated to help and sometimes it keeps someone from dropping litter in the street.
Posted by Renate Simsa - 16.08.2008 Action: Report dumped rubbish to your council

Desktop Recycling

My office has recently adopted a 'Desktop Recycling' Regime. We no longer have personal waste bins at our desks, these have been replaced by 5 communal bins: Paper, Plastic, Card, Cans & General Waste.


Post-it notes have also been outlawed! They are no longer available from the stationary cupboard and if employees insist on using them, they will have to buy their own.

What a fantastic way to avoid waste.

The next plan of action is to take away the plastic and paper cups from the communal kitchen in favour of mugs.

It's such a great idea and really uplifting to see a company making good on its environmental policy.

Posted by AlmightyCa - 16.08.2008 Action: Avoid waste

Cats

When you walk down the street and see a cat, take a bit of time to stroke it (if it's friendly), maybe think of a good name for it, and enjoy it's company. You'll get a break from all the walking you've been doing, and the cat will appreciate it too.
Posted by Spinx - 15.08.2008

Fizzy drinks

I have read that water used in bottled fizzy drinks, can cause problems for the local communities as very often the manufacturers divert the water and the result is that regions who rely on the water for their crops suffer.

Does anyone else know about this?
Posted by Zoe - 12.08.2008

Enough already!

I love your watery tales.
I have been feeling extremely guilty about something - for ages.
Reading your tickle made me decide that enough is enough and that now is the time for change.
Here is my guilty secret.
I buy water. In bottles. Big fat plastic bottles. Have done for a while now. For too long.
I have decided today to invest in a water filter (or even - shock horror - to become reacquainted with my kitchen tap) and I am going to stop buying bottled water and start drinking the free stuff.
Thank you We Are What We Do for making me stop. And think.
Here goes!

Posted by Minos - 11.08.2008

Water meter advice

I really want a water meter fitted in my flat but when I get in touch with my supplier they tell me that a single dwelling is too small to bother with a meter. I'm loathe to buy one privately but it strikes me as bonkers that conscientious attempts to save water are being stymied by the very people we're trying to help! Advice anyone?


Posted by Emily - 11.08.2008

eco kettles

i'm going to buy an eco kettle this week that allows me to use only the amount i need for each drink. Saves water and energy and according to electrical store Curry's they promise "Buy any appliance from us and we recyle your old one for free." so they can have my old leaky one. : )
Posted by rainbowcatcher - 09.08.2008 Action: Don't overfill your kettle

string bags at reusablebags.com

no, i neither work for nor own stock in reusablebags.com - but i LOVE their string bags. organic cotton, hold up to 40 lbs each, tiny and malleable eough to always have a few in my purse, they are totally worth investing in a set. i am like a string bag evangelist everytime i'm at the grocery store or farmer's market and folks ask about them. they rule. oh -get the long handled ones that fit over your shoulder. comfy and convenient!
Posted by wendig - 08.08.2008 Action: Decline plastic bags wherever possible.