Minimalistic and Sustainable

I grew up in a home that wasn't rich, but neither were we poor. I did not want for much, and I had food on the table every night, clothes on my back, and a roof over my head. My dad has been our primary source of income almost my entire life, while my mother stayed home to take care of my siblings and me. There were no fancy vacations to Disneyland or Hawaii, but rather long road trips through the countryside or the beach. More often than not, growing up, my clothes were thrifted rather than new, or they were hand-me-downs from my older cousins.

I grew up knowing what it was to respect and cherish what I had and not worry about the little things. My household had always had a single car until my father acquired the use of a work vehicle in recent years. I was raised on home-cooked meals and family game nights. My mom made it her mission to fill us with as many vegetables and natural proteins as she could force us to eat. As far as sustainability goes, I know what it is to live minimally. I have always been happy with the minimum I need to live comfortably.

We have always been conscious of how our choices affect the environment, doing our best to minimize the imprint we leave in our wake. A couple of years ago, my mother discovered a company that recycles soft plastics so that they go to a place to be sorted and used instead of ending up in a landfill. Sustainability is something that I think of whenever I go shopping. I'll look for products and packages which I know are easily disposable and have the least amount of plastic possible. This way, when the time comes to throw them away, I can either save them and recycle them at home, or I can wash and reuse the glass containers for future supplies.