And just like that, we’re already one week into the new year.  How are those New Year’s resolutions coming along?  I’ve gotten started on a few of the things on my list but have also fallen off the wagon as well.  I told myself I would continue my 3 positive thoughts/things daily journal but only kept it up once during the week.  On a positive note, I tried my first meditation class after work.  It was a hypnosis focused class and I have to admit, it was a little weird.  The whole point of meditation is to just be and not think about anything.  Yeah, that didn’t work so well for me as my mind kept drifting away from the focus and thinking about random stuff.  Even though I didn’t have the best experience, I will definitely try it again.  I also got a few pointers/help from 2 of my yoga instructors on things to focus on my handstand practice.  I was actually able to hold it unassisted without falling over for 3-4 seconds on Thursday and was really happy with myself and my progress.  I just need to make sure I continue to practice it a little every day and soon enough I know I’ll get there.

I’ve been meaning to write this post for awhile now but just haven’t had the chance to get around to it.  There was a recent convention in Paris for climate control (COP21) that brought together over 190 countries over a 2 week period in the beginning of December 2015.  The main objective was to come up with a new international agreement on climate change, applicable to all countries, to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celcius. Since the 1880 (the Industrial Revolution), the earth has warmed 0.85 degrees Celcius and experts believe if we don’t take action now, we could hit the 2 degrees Celcius in a matter of a few decades. Scary right?  What’s even scarier is that 2015 was the hottest year ever recorded and 2016 is set to break that record!! Experts say that a 2 degree Celcius (3.8 Fahrenheit) increase will bring about drastic changes to the world we live.  Think super droughts, mass extinctions, and extreme sea levels rise.  The one movie that comes to mind when I think of climate change is The Day After Tomorrow starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Emmy Rossum, one of my favorites movies btw.  Although I don’t think things can or will get that bad, it just shows that if we don’t take action now, our kids and grandkids will be paying the price.  I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the most environmentally conscious person but I’ve always tried to keep our future generations in mind when it comes to things we can control and prepare for now.  Here is what the experts say we can do to help us reduce our carbon footprint and keep global warming in check:

• Switch to Energy-Efficient lighting/appliances – most new appliances are energy efficient and a lot of lighting is switching as well. They not only save you money but last longer and take up less energy.
• Reduce general electricity use – turn off the lights/tv when you’re not in the room or if it’s not needed. Every small change adds up in the end.  Try to keep your house well insulated so you don’t have to use the heater so much.
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Aluminum cans, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, glass – anything recycled reduces the energy needed to create new products. I know I was guilty of this in the past because of all those “cool” advertisements but try not to buy/use bottled water.  The carbon footprint it puts on the world is not worth it.  I’ve actually noticed for some of the fitness studios I go to, they don’t allow bottled water and make you bring reusable water bottles– bravo to them!  In case you were interested in why you should kick the habit, here is your answer.
• Try to carpool, use public transportation or walk – this is really tough for So Cal residents because we are all so used to driving everywhere, even if it’s within walking distance. Not only does walking to your destination help you get moving, it helps the environment, so walk when you can. If you have to drive, plan out your trips so you’re not going out multiple times.
• Eat more organic/locally grown fruits and veggies – food choices available in supermarkets come from all over the world. The further away your food comes from, the more gas and carbon emissions are involved.  That’s why shopping local farmer’s markets is your best bet as they are usually locally grown (less gas and emissions) and much fresher than supermarket produce, win-win!  Not only that, vegetarian food requires much less energy to produce and is healthier for you.

I think we all need to take it upon ourselves to make these changes in our daily lives.  It’s the one thing we all must share (this thing called earth) and really take care of or face the consequences of a whole new/different world.  I’m not saying you should make drastic lifestyle changes but just keep these things in mind the next time you’re at home or making plans.  Just imagine If you passed this along to your friends/family and they made the change.  It’s about being more mindful of the decisions we make and keeping the home we all share, planet earth, in mind.

QOTP: “The ‘wait and see’ approach may seem rational, but it’s incredibly risky.  By the time we’re really seeing the full impact of global warming, it is too late to fix it.” -unknown