On sustainability (and my bad habits)

Okay, I’ll be honest. Sustainability has never been my strong suit. I always forget to recycle, everything’s plugged in all the time, I take long showers… the list goes on.

But being here has reminded me that it’s not impossible to be mindful. We just don’t do certain things because it’s inconvenient. In our normal lives, we don’t have the time, energy, or space to cook—let alone grow a garden. But making time, even just a little, and being intentional with your energy, really can shift how you live.

I’ve always dreamed about having a garden. When Nevin and I get our own house, we’re definitelygoing to plant some things. It’s not foreign to me to walk into a garden and pick fresh herbs or vegetables. I just can’t do that in Oregon right now—not the way we live. Not that gardening is easy—it’s not. It takes work and knowledge and time. But it’s possible.

Even little things here feel doable—like being conscious about water use. How you do the dishes. How long you leave clothes in the washer. How long you stand in the shower. It’s not hard, but it does take intention.

I could talk about the lack of air conditioning here… but anyone from Bend already knows how to live without that. 😉