First Things First

Habit three focuses on the act of putting first things first by, "developing our own proactive nature," and, "practicing effective self-management," (Covey, p.74). As a leader of the project, I have established that the first thing we need to do is to hold ourselves accountable and figure out what part we personally play in the plastic accumulating along our coastlines and ocean waters. By doing this, we can find ways to increase sustainability with an easy transition and innovative ways to remove plastics from ocean environments.

"Plastic doesn’t decompose, that means the plastic can stick around indefinitely, wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems," (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2022). The beauty of reducing plastics means preserving the ocean for future generations while saving the lives of marine wildlife. To start we need to realign our values, beliefs, priorities, and purpose while leading with empathy, realizing we are not perfect and change takes time, but committing to what we can do and putting all that we can into it helps us manage the crisis of plastic pollution.

Developing a sustainable lifestyle and recycling habits can be tricky, but did you know that "even if you do not live near the coast" your plastic waste can still find its way to the ocean. A plastic water bottle blown into the street can travel down a stormwater sewer, into rivers and streams, and out into the ocean," (National Park Service, 2022). The need to use more materials that nature can eliminate and break down safely has never been more needed.

As we continue to develop ourselves through the habit of putting first thing first, I ask you to help us by following, commenting, and joining in the discussion regarding transitioning from plastic to more sustainable resources in everyday life. The solution to reducing single-use plastics and removing plastic from the oceans can seem overwhelming but if we work together- we can create sustainable solutions that are simple to transition to and make recycling easy!



Resources

Covey, S. (2020). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Retrieved from:

Retrieved from: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/marinedebris/plastics-in-the-ocean.html.

National Park Service. (2022). Ocean Plastics. Retrieved from:

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/oceans/ocean-plastics.htm.

Image Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2022). A Guide to Plastic in the Ocean.

Retrieved from: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/marinedebris/plastics-in-the-ocean.html.

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