During this research, Rick noticed that today is World Oceans Day. The day is part of the World Ocean Project and was designated by the United Nations in an effort to encourage individuals to evaluate their perspective of the ocean, learn about ocean creatures and habitats, and discover ways to become a better caretaker. There are several threats to our oceans – which ultimately threaten us. For one, global warming is causing rising sea levels, altered ocean currents, warming poles, and bleached coral reefs. By educating ourselves and our children, we can reverse those affects. And that is the premise of World Oceans Day. Even if we don’t live close to the ocean, we can still make an impact by making small modifications in our lifestyles, such as decreasing our carbon footprint and following a more “green” lifestyle.

This year’s theme is “one ocean, one climate, one future.” There are World Oceans Day events worldwide, but if you don’t live close to one you can checkout some of the online events and activities for adults and kids such as Habitat Heroes Ocean Day Treasure Hunt and World Ocean Day coloring sheets.

We began celebrating World Oceans Day early. Rick and Truman went to the pet store and bought two beta fish for Truman’s fish tanks. Truman dropped some of the seashells we collected on the beach into the fishes’ bowls.

I celebrated by focusing on the ocean’s wonderful bounty. I went to Snapper Grabbers fish market and bought trigger fish filets and jumbo shrimp, and served fish tacos for dinner.

Hope you have a glorious and “green” World Oceans Day!

Photo, JWJourney

Post from: Blisstree

June 8th is World Oceans Day

My calendar tells me it’s…*drum roll please*… Earth Day! Yay!

Among my many passions (music, reading, writing, respecting grammar and the English language – I’m a nerd, I know – animals, and mental health) is being kind to the earth. And, indulging and advocating for my passions always gives my mental state a little boost in the right direction, especially when they blend with my other passions. For example, last week I was able to write some real estate material that focused on homes with eco-friendly features – how cool is that?

Very cool, if you’re me.

Anyway, if taking care of the earth is among your passions as well, maybe doing something in honor of Earth Day could also give you a mental boost!

Because it’s already Earth Day, I realize it’s way too late to plan something like a festival; however, if you have:

• 5-10 minutes, you could visit the Earth Day Network for advocacy ideas, Carbon Footprint to calculate your own footprint and get ideas for making it smaller, The Rainforest Site to “click to give” (it’s free!) and protect 11.4 square feet of rainforest, and Daily Tomorrow for a wealth of ideas to be kind to our planet. (While you’re there, say hello to Gabrielle – she’s just taken over the blog!)
• An hour or more, you could locate and determine the quickest route to your area’s recycling center, plant a tree, walk to the grocery store, or hang your laundry on a clothesline rather than running your dryer.
• The rest of the day, you could do some research and make a list of all the things you can do for the rest of the 364 days of the year! Check out sites like Care2 and Kaboose’s Earth Day Web page for ideas about healthy and green living.

When you pause and recognize the big picture – such as our planet and its plant, animal, and human inhabitants – you’re able to take a break from your own stress and anxieties and help make the world a brighter, healthier, and more enjoyable place.

Have fun!

The above image belongs to aussiegall and is being used according to these Creative Commons attributions.

What have you done lately to make the world a brighter place, while still managing your mental illness? Share your story by entering Mental Health Notes’ This Is Why I ROCK!

Post from: Blisstree

Be Kind To Your Earth, Be Kind To Your Mind