A well known ancient Proverb says:

“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”

In essence what this proverb us saying is that we need to be respectful of our children and our homes, by safeguarding their futures with what we do today.

There are three things we desperately need to live: oxygen, water, and sunlight. Food is important too but oxygen, water, and sunlight are imperative to life. A man can live longer with food than he can with a lack of water.

Tearing down trees, useless waste, pollution, plastic instead of paper, and a general lack of knowledge are just a few of the things that are contributing to the demise of the three core matter we need to live. When we read the doom and gloom in the media about our earth, we often feel overwhelmed and confused, wondering what it is that we can do to make a difference.

There are ways for you to take action. There are things you can do each and every day to lesson the negative impact on the environment, starting right now.

Here are some things you can do to take action and start making a more proactive impact on the environment.

• Start a compost bin for kitchen scraps, grass clippings, leaves, and paper. It is not nasty – it is wise living.

• Use vinegar, lemon, essential oils, and baking soda to clean your house - Essential oils like tea tree oil, lemons, and vinegar all have antifungal and disinfectant properties. No need for bleach.

• Use Reusable Bags - How often does a typical family shop each month? If you kept reusable bags in your car for your storing items from your shopping trips, you would make a huge difference in the number of plastic bags that end up in landfills, all of which will still be around when your great-grandchildren are alive. If you look around your home, you may have several cloth bags already that would be suitable. Many stores like Target. CVS, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods sell attractive reusable grocery bags at reasonable costs.

• Go Digital! Could you read an e-book instead of a paper version? Do online banking instead of getting a statement in the mail? Pay bills online instead of using an envelope? Get your favorite reading materials digitally delivered. Reconsider having the newspaper delivered to your home everyday and see if you can read it online instead. Subscribe to magazines that offer digital subscriptions and read your favorite magazines online.

• Shop used first - When looking for new clothes try hosting swap party with friends and neighbors to see if you can exchange clothing instead of buying new all the time. Go to a thrift store in your area and try to go on a day when the prices are cut in half. You would be surprised at the treasures you find in a thrift store.

The key to success in the fight to save the environment is to set goals and commit to making changes slowly. This way, good habits of stewardship for the care our planet is more likely to stick and become permanent lifestyle choices.