This is a little yuck.....

This week I have been laid up with bronchitis. Lots of snot and coughing and everything else disgusting and icky that comes with having a cold. Being sick, though, got me thinking about how my health was impacting on the planet. To date I have gone through approximately 3 boxes of tissues. Normally I wouldn't use a tissue unless I was absolutely desperate (and I must admit that I have used my sleeve like a two year rather than use a tissue - yuck!! yeah I know).

When I first got sick I knew I would use my handkerchiefs. Be the mean green fitting machine that I believe I am there was no other option. Then the lava flow of boogers began and the handkerchiefs couldn't keep up. The thing is that there is always one handkerchief in my handbag or backpack or tucked away in some long forgotten coat pocket. I never leave home without them. However by day two I was nearly out of 'hankies' and felt I had no choice but to resort to tissues.

My dilema is, of course, the amount of energy used to create one box of tissues. Plus the trees that are killed to produce the actual product.

Then there were the ' home spun cures'. Echinacea, zinc, olive leaf extract, burning essential oils to clear the nasal passage, lemon drinks, orange juice (vitamin C). Then there are the 'manufacturered drugs'. All the energy used to manufacture, store, transport and sell these drugs to help ease the common cold. And if you look on the shelf of any supermarket or chemist there is an endless array of wonder cures for the common cold.

I feel like my head cold has just accelerated an already ailing health of the Earth.

So what do you do when you get ill? As with anything relating to being green - use your best judgement. Some times natural remedies just don't cut it. And some times cold and flu tablets and other manufactured wonder drugs are just a waste of money - placebos. But then the reverse can also be true so as I said use your judgement. It is a fine balancing act between the wonders of modern medicine and wisdom of 'grannies old fashioned remedies'.

The thing is though, every day we are faced with small decisions. Buy tissues? Yes or no? A simple enough task that we do when we go grocery shopping. We never stop to ask If I buy these tissues, one small box of tissues, how has that impacted the Earth and how will that impact the Earth? What I mean is how much water, energy, carbon emissions, green house gases and other pollutants have been released from making and transporting a box od tissues? Then what if you add further water, energy, carbon emissions etc to the disposal of the tissues it becomes a bit overwhelming. Used tissues can not be added to the compost. And I am pretty sure you can not add them to the Bokashi bin (I may be wrong and would appreciate any feedback).

So what is the point of my ramblings today? The smallest decisions we make can have big impacts on the planet and it's health. I can not offer suggestions or answers. I can offer you my thoughts and observations. I can tell you what I do however I think I just have more questions. Some times I feel overwhelmed by what impact my choice has on the planet.

The one thing I am sure of, and have always believed to be true, is that one person can make a difference. You can be the change you want to see happen.

I am just one little chick trying to live clean and green in Melbourne however I beleive that if I can touch one person to make one change and that person reaches out and touches someone else and so on and so on, then all of a sudden one person (me :) ) has created a chain reaction of green. Yay!!