Living more sustainably step by step – with consistency and forbearance

Live more sustainably step by step – with consistency and forbearance.

One big step towards sustainability, or do you prefer a lot of small ones? Always consistent or forgiving?  In principle, that’s not a question, is it? If I know the goal, I should tackle it with courage, strength, and consistency. Do I want more sustainability and climate protection? Bottom line: no more flying, no more driving a car, green electricity, no more consumer goods, and seasonal, regional food. Completely! In principle, we all know quite well what the adjustment screws would be for our footprint. But are we working hard enough on it? The answer is clear: Unfortunately not.

There is a huge gap between knowledge in the head and actual action.

We want the animals to be kept in a manner appropriate to their species, but still, we mostly buy meat from factory farms. We reject the exploitation of workers, but we still have millions of packages delivered to us every day by transporters in precarious working conditions. Not to mention the contents of the packages, which mostly come from low-wage countries with exploitation and environmental degradation.

Each and every one of us is lying in our pockets. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

Usually, we are miles away from constant action, And me personally? Is my own life really as green and sustainable as I would like it to be? Am I always consistent and able to make the right and sustainable decisions in every situation in life? I’m afraid, sadly, no.

We are all human, and at best, we do our best.

Even I can’t always give up on greater sustainability and say no. For example, when my kids want ice cream on the beach or by the pool  (from Nestlé and in plastic containers). Sometimes I buy something I don’t need or order from a large mail-order company, which I refuse. Actually… Despite all this, there is good news for me personally.

All the little wrong decisions in everyday life are less and less, Day by day and step by step.

Because I know better, Change is a gradual development. A slow but sure approach to the ideal. And because giving up and going on like before is not an option, we simply have to accept that we are not always perfect. We make mistakes.

I make mistakes and make wrong decisions. So what?

We just have to get up and start over with a new value. Day by day and step by step. Open and honest, self-reflective, but without tearing or sabotaging us.  Because sustainability is not a sprint, real sustainability is a marathon.