RECYCLING… Mindset ni bay!

Have you tried living your life with much recycling? Kanang magdala ka’g bayong o bag panahon nga mamalengke or maggrocery? Dili nimo ilabay ang plastics nga gisudlan sa isda ug gulay, instead hugasan nimo ug gamiton usab. Kanang paghimo ug something nga gamitan nimo sa mga guba nga butang inay ilabay ra? Bisan sa pagkaon, ibalik ang imong breakfast sa lunch or lunch sa dinner. Na-try mo na ba yan na buhay? Madali ba? Ayos ba?

January is a “ZERO WASTE” month… is there such a thing? It seems impossible! In this world where all are disposables and dominated by “throw away culture” to have a zero-waste lifestyle is unattainable. Others think that it can be if we go back to the Iron Age where machines are not yet that efficient and effective. Because we quest for “development” and we link it much in attaining CONVENIENCE IN LIFE, thus we rather throw things than fix it.

We opt to replace old ways with what is new, quick and easy. Convenience seems to be the trademark of development. A mindset, a culture that is ingrained in our life.

Unless we change this mindset, we will never attain a zero-waste lifestyle. Thus, in Laudato Si, Pope Francis invites us to journey the Life of ECOLOGICAL CONVERSION. What is this all about? It is a transformation of our lifestyle to become a true steward of God’s creation.

Recycling then is just a way of concretizing this conversion. Unless we see ourselves as part of creation and our mission is to protect, enhance and care for creation we will never appreciate the process of Re-using what we have, reducing our use and even abuse of creation and be proud that we recycle things in life. Ecological conversion will lead us to a new mindset of living one’s life with a minimal use of material things yet having the abundance of everything. To embrace a “ZERO WASTE” lifestyle, let’s start by transforming our mindset from “nothing to something,” living a life centered on recycling.