It supports the businesses around you and truly impacts the community...  Small things add up. Supporting small businesses add up. It puts money back into the city around you and choosing local/organic/small keeps money in the community because 'locally-owned businesses often purchase from other local businesses, service providers and farms'. 

THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES is how the ocean supports my life on earth:

"When we dip in the water, our inner dolphin gets released. It’s called the “mammalian diving reflex”(10). I learned this when I started freediving. When our face touches water, our heart rate immediately slows down, and blood moves from the extremities to the brain, heart and vital organs of our body. Seals and dolphins have this reflex, and so do we! It wakes us up and makes us feel vibrant and alive.

The ocean is therapeutic. When we see, feel, hear, smell or taste water we are happy and at peace. Research has proven that the so-called blue spaces can directly reduce psychological stress and improve mood." 

I always feel at peace when I'm near the water and this is probably why! It goes back to single-use plastics. Those heavily pollute our oceans and avoiding them at all costs contributes to the restoration of wildlife and ocean habitats. 

It's a bit different now given the situation we're in.... but less driving. More buying local and sustainable sources groceries. Carpool when we can. 

I am sad to say I've not done much research on the Vaquita other than today. I had no idea there was another kind of cetacean and given that, there are only 10 left in the world. There is also an International Effort toward saving these creatures...

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO BOOST VAQUITA-SAFE FISHING

In July 2016, President Barack Obama and President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico announced bilateral collaboration measures to protect the vaquita. As a follow up to this meeting and to the recommendations CIRVA presented in its vaquita report, Mexico's National Institute of Fisheries (INAPESCA) and WWF Mexico established an international committee of experts to further develop and urgently implement vaquita-safe fishing technologies.

The committee advises the Mexican government on improving fishing techniques not harmful to vaquita, including those that INAPESCA and WWF Mexico have together developed over the last years.

This independent committee is charged with improving existing vaquita-safe fishing technologies (such as the small trawl to catch shrimp and traps and other gear for fish) to substitute gillnets, which are currently banned in vaquita habitat in the Upper Gulf of California, the only place on Earth where the vaquita exists.

The committee is comprised of experts from Texas A&M University, NOAA South East Fisheries Center, Swedish University of Agriculture Science, Technological University of Denmark, Canada's Fisheries and Marine Institute, New England Aquarium, FAO, INAPESCA, and WWF.

A protocol and guidelines to catch shrimp with vaquita-safe technology is expected to be ready soon.

Shopping sustainably! I love helping others choose products that are better for the environment and advocating for reusable items. 

When I grocery shop, I don't put my produce in plastic bags. I've been taking my resuable bags for a while, but really enjoy not using single-use plastics. I want to try out Roots Zero Waste too for bulk items. I'd rather have bulk items in jars and returnable/resuable containers I can store in my pantry. 

By being grateful for what's around you. Seeing the resources around you. Getting a sense of how eco-systems work outside of your home. 

Restoration during crisis. 
Thriving through adversity. 
The gift of travel to vast lands.

I wrote this about a month ago, reflecting on the past, present, and future. I think of it as a love letter to the Earth. 

"How fortunate was I to travel. To drink red wine and dine in a restaurant. To people watch on a bustling street full of life. To embrace my closest friends. To live without fear. How fortunate were we to not worry about basic necessities. To spend a night out dancing and eating street food To learn firsthand how other cultures live. To hold hands.  I don't wish for things to go back to the way they were. I want us to grow and flourish from this. I want us to live sustainably with more awareness. I want us to see the good in others and live fully. This time of being still was needed. This time of being still was necessary. There is always a silver lining. Less pollution, spring blossoms, animals in places they once were, human connection, empathy, community, actions in place for the greater good. Let's be still. Let's love one another. This will be a new beginning."

You absolutely can. If more people buy organic, there is a bigger demand for it. It's the simple routine of supply + demand.  

Reduce water usage. Increase frequency of riding my bike to work.