Stephanie Paris
Happy Earth Day 2020!

Happy Earth Day! This photo was taken on August 11, 1996. Ever since my dad first showed it to me, I always thought it looked like the earth should be resting in my hands. So today, I made it happen!
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I have felt such a close connection to the earth my entire life. When I was younger, I thought a lot about getting a degree in environmental science to help protect this planet we call home.
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Later in life I concluded that in order to love and want to take care of our planet, we first must love and take care of ourselves.
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It’s like two sides of the same coin: human health is influenced by the health of the environment, and the health of the environment is dependent upon the stewardship of its people.
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Earth Day is a good reminder to check in and see if our daily choices are supporting a healthy lifestyle and a healthy planet. Here are 5 simple ideas:
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1. Buy more locally grown food.
2. Choose organic food when possible as a way to support environmentally sustainable farming.
3. Reduce consumption of plastic and fossil fuels.
4. Consider buying used items instead of new (think clothing, furniture, housewares, etc). There are already so many manufactured THINGS on this planet to choose from!
5. Walk or bike instead of driving.
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Have you noticed ways in which the earth has positively contributed to your health?
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What about ways that not taking care of the earth has negatively impacted your health, or the health of someone else?
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I challenge you to think of ONE new practice or choice you can begin incorporating into your life that supports the health of yourself, or the health of your planet. Because really, they are undeniably interconnected. ❤️ 🌎