Every year, at 8:30pm, people collectively switch out their lights for one hour to express support for climate action. It’s a simple yet powerful gesture; ever since its inception in 2007, Earth Hour has sparked conversations around what we are currently doing to care for the planet, as well as what else we can do to keep it habitable.
Today reminded me of a quote I love, from one of the world’s celebrated anthropologists:
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
— Dr. Jane Goodall
This quote makes me think about some of my plants, actually!
Here are two (of several), for reference:
Say hello to my calamansi and overgrown oregano plants! ♥
Every day, I get up and make sure they are watered and tended. I have work to do and a family to care for, but I’m responsible for my plants, too. If I don’t mind them, they won’t thrive. I won’t have fresh calamansi on hand, or fragrant oregano. My presence and the actions I choose to make spell the difference between having healthy plants and having wilting ones.
The Earth is way bigger than oregano in a pot, of course. And nearly 8 billion of us live off of its resources. We need to take care of the planet together — we can’t just leave it up to chance and expect that nature will bounce back on its own.
At Ellana, we like to remind everyone that our choices are important.
Each decision we make ripples out to impact something bigger: We formulate makeup for skin health, design packaging for minimum waste, and empower women to do and be more. We choose to do things because they’re the right thing to do.
And choosing to do the right thing together? That’s what beauty is all about.
That’s how we’re going to change the world.
Let’s go for more than just switching the lights off, and do more for the planet we live on.
What are some choices you’ve made this year in support of climate action? I’d love to hear how you’re taking steps to make a difference — we’re all in this together, after all!
Love,
Theresa Carbonel-Buenaflor
Founder, Ellana Mineral Cosmetics