Environment
For me, living consciously also means respecting the world around me – especially when it comes to plastic. A few facts that move me, and the simple steps I take.
Living consciously · Environment
Mindful of our world
For me, mindfulness doesn't stop at my own body. How I treat my environment is part of the same attitude – in small things and in big ones. Mindfulness towards myself and mindfulness towards the world are two sides of the same coin.
Plastic in the ocean
One topic that moves me deeply is plastic. The numbers are staggering: estimates suggest that 80 to 150 million tonnes of plastic are already drifting in our oceans, with millions of tonnes added every year. Much of it never breaks down completely – instead it turns into microplastics, tiny particles under five millimetres that never truly disappear.
The consequences are everywhere: sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, seabirds starve with full stomachs. Studies found plastic in the digestive tract of three out of four fish – and through fish and seafood it eventually ends up on our plates. I found the film „Der Fluch der Meere“ (“The Curse of the Seas”), made by someone I know, very striking on this subject.
Less plastic in everyday life
Shop package-free
Farmers' markets and zero-waste shops first. Fresh, loose fruit and vegetables save a surprising amount of packaging.
Reusable over single-use
Glass and reusable bottles, my own cloth bag, storage jars. Whatever I reuse never becomes waste.
Bring your own cup
Your own reusable cup or a tin on the go – in many cafés the coffee even costs a little less that way.
Bar soap instead of dispensers
A bar of solid soap replaces the single-use plastic dispenser – for hands, shower and even hair.
Use household remedies
Baking soda, washing soda, vinegar, curd soap and citric acid replace many specialist cleaners in colourful plastic bottles.
Separate your waste
Small but effective: when sorted cleanly, raw materials like plastic and metal can be used again and again.
I'm not aiming for the perfect ecological lifestyle – there's no such thing anyway. What matters to me is attention: consciously noticing where I can change something, and then actually doing it. Every small step counts, and together they add up to big ones.
“Respecting the world around me is mindfulness in action.”— Daria Czarlinska
Let's think it through together
If this topic moves you, I'd love to talk about it – in a single session, in coaching or at a retreat.
Get in touch