Cutting Edge
From the Editor’s Desk Hayley Solich
We live in a throw away world. We buy clothes that last only a few months, take away foods that have containers that we chuck in our bins and the life span of our furniture and electronics is getting shorter and shorter. So how can we push back the tide of this throw away mentality? Change only comes if there is first awareness, then motivation. This issue is all about sustainability. We cannot possibly continue along this pathway that we are on if we don’t become more aware of how our actions are helping or harming our lives. Sustainability is more than just chucking your waste bottles and paper items in a recycle bin. There are so many more aspects to this topic. It is about our environmental footprint, yes, but it is also about creating longevity and thinking beyond the next 30 days. It is about planning for our future and delivering in our present the steps that will lead us to that future. It is about community and contribution. Sustainability is also about working into our businesses staff retention strategies; understanding financial planning, so we are self-sufficient as we age; and looking after our bodies so we can not only survive but thrive. For us to thrive, we must learn sustainability. We must be thinking more about our actions to premeditate the resulting reactions. I feel it is not enough just to give rhetoric to this subject. However, creating awareness is the first step towards real change. As you read this issue and you learn more about sustainability practices, I hope you will become inspired to make some small changes in your world. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please post your comments on our Facebook.com/GoldenPenMagazine wall or tweet @GoldenPenMag.
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