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Heartwings Love Notes 309 - How I Changed a Habit

Heartwings says, "Changing a habit requires persistence."

Often as a supermarket clerk begins to bag the groceries of the person in front of me in plastic I hear her say, "Oh, I left my bags in the car." I sympathize. I used to say that too. Then I broke the habit. When I found myself walking into the market without my cloth shopping bags or as I got ready to check out and realized I didn't have them, I would make myself go back to the car and get them.

After I did that a few times I remembered them more often. Now I almost never forget them. Having created that nice new habit I want to reinforce it even when I am shopping elsewhere. I am working to remember to bring a bag for purchases whenever I go into a store. When I do forget I often carry my purchase without a bag and put it in one I have in my car.

Plastic bags are not only wasteful of materials they are also an environmental hazard. There is more awareness of this now. Supermarkets and other stores are helping by providing inexpensive cloth bags. We are used to the convenience of store provided bags and it's difficult to break the habit of relying on them. I am delighted when I see a grocery wagon leaving laden not with plastic or even paper but cloth.

That convenience comes with a heavy price. My son and his dear companion have just returned from a trip to South America. There they found coastal beaches choked with plastic bags and bottles. Plastic twirled and drooped in trees and bushes everywhere. These days there is too much of it blowing in the wind and we are responsible. Even though it makes one tiny drop less in that massive sea I am glad to use my own cloth bags.

May you remember to shop with your own cloth bags and reduce the use of plastic for the benefit of the environment.

Blessings and Best Regards,
Tasha Halpert
 

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