Hello, and thanks for stopping by! Have you ever wanted to make the world a better place, but you didn’t know where to start? That’s why I created this blog!

My name is Laura, and if you’re like me, you already know that you should recycle/vote/give to charity, but sometimes you’re just too busy/tired/lazy to actually do it. I finally decided to stop making excuses for myself and commit to leaving this place better than I found it. I believe that small, everyday actions like reducing consumption and using your purchasing power for good can make a difference. I know I won’t save the world on my own, but join me, and together we can build a better planet.

My social work background taught me that all great organizations/institutions/movements have a mission statement and a list of core values, so I thought I should too. These are basically the ideals that I will attempt to uphold throughout this blog.

Mission:

To create, and inspire others to create, a better planet through small, manageable action steps.

Values:

1..Be positive. There are immeasurable injustices occurring every day. I could describe ad nauseam the states of natural disasters and war-torn regions and impoverished communities the world over, but I’m not a foreign correspondent on social justice, and nor do I want to be. There are many wonderful journalists and organizations out there reporting on these issues already. My goal is to focus on the positive—not on what we’re doing wrong, but on what we can do better.

2. Be realistic. I could tell you I’m going to donate all of my material possessions, give all my money to charity, and live out my days in a yurt on a sustainable farm where I will make all my own clothes and grow all my own food, and even though it would be good for the planet, it’s just not going to happen. Instead I will focus on simple, realistic ways to improve the planet within the context of my (and your) everyday life.

3. Embrace mistakes. I’m the first to admit that I’ve done things that have definitely not made the world a better place. I’ve thrown away a plastic bottle when I was feeling lazy and couldn’t find a recycle bin. I’ve shopped at “big box” stores. And I’ve definitely changed the channel when one of those commercials asking for support to fight animal cruelty came on (cue Sarah McLachlan). My goal is not to make the planet perfect, but to make it better. I’m not a climate change scientist or a human rights lawyer or the founder of a non-profit organization. I’m just a regular person with a regular job trying to make a difference in small, meaningful ways. I will undoubtedly miss opportunities and make mistakes along the way, but through it all, I will try my best to make the planet a better place.