The last #AnatomyOfAction domain is FUN, which consists of three subdomains, #StayCurious, #EnjoyTheJourney and, #ChooseExperiences.
To live a more sustainable life is in many ways - a change of habits through patterns and priorities. However, in order to actually take care of our planet, we also need to take care of ourselves. The process of embracing a more sustainable lifestyle is also an individual one and does not look the same way for everyone. Explore what you’re curious about and interested in, and make it sustainable for you. This journey is yours and it’s exciting, fascinating, and fun!
It’s not a fast process, learning about sustainable living, but it is a very fun one! Keeping an open mind is essential to learning, while you should also be aware that some things that work great for one person, might not be right for you. We all have different lifestyles and situations, different paces and interests. I’ll use myself as an example: I love nature, food, and fashion, and I’m always keeping my eyes open on how I could improve myself in those areas or if there are even more ways I could combine my interests. I love bringing nature into my kitchen, one of my latest creations is pine needle salt.
To live more sustainably is always possible. You learn it bit by bit; by listening to others, talking to others, asking, searching for tips, and last mentioned but certainly not least, trying if something works for you or not. Let your imagination flow, and don’t forget to stay curious.
Traveling is something many people enjoy, and just because you're trying to live more sustainably does not imply that you need to stop traveling. There are ways to do it more sustainably and leaving the smallest possible CO2 footprint. Searching for the term “ecotourism” will give you many helpful tips on how to travel more eco-friendly.
Stay in a small local hotel for example and eat at a local restaurant, since more money will leave the destination if it’s spent at a non-local business instead.
I'm in the hospitality industry myself and my greatest tip for anyone who wants new experiences is to do research before you travel. This is applicable to any destination you're interested in. One thing to look for is the means of transportation where you're planning to go, do they have great public transportation or would you need to rent a car? You probably know some sights you want to explore while you're there, but I urge everyone to look up if it's a sustainable sight or if it puts too much pressure on the local ecosystems. If you know the risks you can prepare yourself and take the necessary precautions to have an amazing trip and not be a burden on the destination.
Did you know?
Aviation accounts for up to 75% of the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions, while coach and rail travel amounts to 13% and accommodation approximately 20%. In 2017 there were 1.3 billion international tourist arrivals globally, of which the majority (57%) traveled by air, the most polluting form of transport per passenger kilometer.
When I look back at my life I remember summers with my grandparents, picnics, and family dinners. I remember the hikes, camping, swimming, and watching the sunset with friends. If I compare all these lovely memories I have to anything materialistic, I’d choose to experience those memories again every time. Would I rather buy that shirt or do something I’ll remember for the rest of my life with the people that I love?
I’ve never really been a materialistic person, I’ve always preferred to create memories instead of buying something. “You can’t buy happiness” is a saying I only half agree with. Money can cover your basic needs, like somewhere safe to stay and having food to eat. But above the basic needs in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, I don’t think money can buy happiness. Happiness is a journey within ourselves and together with other people, by doing things we love with the people we love.
Of course, I can only speak for myself, but things won’t make me happy. They might facilitate my life somewhat, but it’s the small and big adventures in life that I really enjoy and will remember. One of my favorite things I did as a child was climbing trees. I still remember how exciting it was to climb higher and higher.
We all have small things in life that make us smile and laugh.
Focus on the experiences that add value to your life.
Memories are priceless.
Choose experiences.
Share your own Anatomy of Action journey, so others can do the same! We at ReGeneration 2030 would also love to see what you are doing this week. Don’t forget to use #ReGenAoA, and tag @ReGeneration.2030.
The fourth Edition of RGW2021 will be built upon the five AoA domains, and the results will be shared at our RGW2021. We want to highlight your actions and make them known to policymakers in the Nordic and Baltic Sea Region!
Want to know more about ReGeneration, Anatomy of Action or ReGeneration Week? Here are some links which might be helpful:
ReGenerationWeek: https://regenerationweek.org/
Toolkit with graphics for the challenge. It's never too late to participate: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XNJO1yS1XqHRWrO1iull4Dy7JYjsiKQX?usp=sharing
This post is written by: Emilia Lundberg