I’ve often thought one of my greatest strengths is not worrying about looking a little silly at times, or about finding out I was wrong …so with that in mind, let’s talk about just a couple of the things I’ve been wrong about!
First, “save the dandelions to save the bees!” was my battlecry for many years…but that’s not quite how it is. As I continue to learn, I realize native plants are actually more important to health of pollinators, so to save the bees (and other pollinators), a prairie lawn would actually be more appropriate… But, at the same time, spraying harmful poison isn’t a great option. Plus, dandelions aren’t going to do too much harm in a healthy, diverse, native environment, and they do have benefits…so, if it’s a matter of “pristine” green lawn or dandelions, I’d probably side with dandelions. (If you want to read a little more about what to plant instead of dandelions, check out this post on the Monarch Gardens blog.)
Another topic is that of donating clothing…though I have generally listed this as a last resort when it comes to dispatching unwanted clothing, the more I learn, the more I think we should steer clear of donating altogether. So many clothes are donated in the US, including many that aren’t even wearable (stained, tore up, or otherwise not fit to wear), and that means much of them end up in landfills anyway, or are sold overseas, upsetting entire economies. Basically, they become someone else’s problem. There are times when donating clothing can be a good option (like, to Dress for Success or similar organizations) but, like so much, it’s very nuanced and you must pay attention.
These are just two examples that have been on my mind, and I’m sure I could come up with more if I tried. My whole point is, I know I still have a lot of learning to do. Even the most vigilant among us—which isn’t me!—can end up being wrong or misinformed. We’ve all been guilty of this at some point. What’s important is that we can learn from mistakes and pivot.
And honestly, when it comes to doing things in an eco-friendly way, life circumstances can make “better” choices very difficult at times. And, at times, it’s almost impossible to know which choice truly is better. And then, sometimes…we know better, have the means to do better, but just…don’t.
My whole point? Nobody does things “perfectly.” Does it mean you should give up altogether? No! I think it’s important to do our best, without condemning other individuals just because they don’t live up to our standards. We should also encourage others, lovingly, to do their best, too. (Should we hold corporations and other giant organizations accountable? YES, absolutely…but that’s another rant.)
When it comes to people, though, I think it’s so very important to have grace—for others and also for yourself.
Let’s always keep learning, keep doing better, and remember why we’re doing it in the first place.
