Sustainable living choices

In the United States, anything you want or need is right at your finger tips. While some might disagree, we really can have it all. Our living situations are as easy and convienent as we like. That is not the case in other parts of the world and I believe it is very easy for Americans to oversee this. Especially if you've never traveled out of the country. The rest of the world looks very different from our very comfortable living in the United States. Now, I believe we all encounter different circumstances and live very different lives and that is perfectly ok. I also believe seeing the world from a different perspective can be very humbling. It is nice to have convenience but perhaps that is where some of the worlds problems arise.

"Line drying laundry conserves energy and helps to protect the environment by saving precious fossil fuels. It is the pinnacle of green laundry and living!

There are more than 90 million clothes dryers in the United States, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. Air-drying clothes can reduce the average household’s carbon footprint by a whopping 2,400 pounds a year. Experts determined that if all Americans line-dried clothing for just half of a year, it would save 3.3 percent of the country’s total residential output of carbon dioxide."

On my journey in Italy and other parts of the world for that matter, I've noticed a different way of living. It's incredible! It is amazing to see how other cultures live. For us Americans, it may resemble how past generations have lived and as our country has grown, there have been efficiencies and inventions that have brought easier living available to us. Take having a dryer in your home for instance. How convienent, right? Need something dried in 10 minutes? No problem! Fast and efficient. But also, not necessarily sustainable. As I was wandering through the streets of many small villages, I could look up and see many lines of clothing drying in the sun. The many lines and lines of wardrobe and linens felt like walking through an art gallery. So much to see and observe and yet it brought such a humbling feeling to me. We do line dry in my household but certainly not everything. It would take a very long time! There's that convienance and entitlement shining through.

As I continue to journey through out the world, I try to reflect and show gratitude for what I have but also consider, what can I do differently on my end to help preserve the planet. Certainly many things! Reducing my carbon footprint with my wardrobe and linens is a good start! I enchourage you to do the same.

Much love, Megan