One is NOT Only

I began  this blog in response to being a woman on my own and being addressed in many different situations as “only”.  “Only one?, only you?, or only three?”- when with couple friends recently! ( https://oneisnotonly.blog/2015/08/  ) One is NOT only-one is  powerful, one is unique, one is enough!  One person can have a huge impact for good or bad. I saw a quote this week by Paulo Coehlo, “The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion.”  I met a woman, Meredith, at a professional conference last month who embodied that quote and inspired me by her example.

I was attending the Cullowhee Native Plant Conference  where we were focused on how important the decisions we make in landscape planning are for pollinator and wildlife health whether personal, business, or institutional. I explain that to set the tone that I was with 300 people that are taking time off from their job or personal life because they care about environmental issues. We had our meals together in the event center. I went to breakfast the first morning and was lamenting the huge amount of trash we were causing with the disposable plates, cups and plastic utensils provided by the university’s catering and thought to myself, “there has to be a better way”.  I sighed as I put as much as possible in the recycles bin. I went to the ladies room to freshen up and encountered a woman washing and drying a small plate, cup, cloth napkin and utensils then putting them in a small bag. I suddenly realized this woman was “the better way”. I asked her about it and she explained that she carried these in a small bag so that she didn’t have to use disposable products in restaurants, coffee shops, and especially multi-day events like this one. It was so incredibly easy. I looked at her in awe and told her she was my environmental hero! I own every single thing she had in her little bag-I work part time at REI for pete’s sake! I already have it all, but it was just sitting at home in my camping equipment bin. It had never occurred to me to just put a few things in a bag and take them with me. There is a better way than creating all that waste with disposal dishes and Meredith not only thought of it-she was doing it. She told  me she felt embarrassed at times because she was doing something differently than everyone else-people often stared when she pulled out her own plate and utensils. I told her they were probably the ones embarrassed and were like me thinking , “why didn’t I think of that!”  I am packing  up a bag with my plate, bowl, cup , utensils and napkins to carry with me. It was all at my  house waiting to be used, I just needed an inspiration named Meredith!

waiting to be used!

I just needed an inspiration named Meredith!

I figured up that in just four days at the conference Meredith saved 12 spoons, 12 knives, 12 forks, 12, plates, 12 -18 cups and glasses, and probably 12-24 napkins. If all 300 of us had chosen to do that it would have been 3600 each  of disposable spoons, forks, plates etc-WOW!!  Meredith doing it only herself still adds up over a year and now she has at least doubled her influence with me and I am sure I am not the only person at the conference inspired to examine my habits. I was on a date a few years ago and the man was upset that the restaurant used styrofoam plates so he went over to talk to the owner. I was impressed, but it did not cause me to change my habits. Seeing Meredith not just having an opinion but setting an example is what inspired me to consider what I can do personally.

What are your opinions causing you to change in YOUR life?!  I am thrilled I met Meredith-I hope you are too! Here she is!

©  Michelle Campanis 2018