I’ve never considered myself to be an environmentalist, but I do really, really love the outdoors and appreciate all that the earth has to offer. God has created a marvelously beautiful world, one that we can honor through stewardship by helping to care for what He has given us. I also think that anyone can be into celebrating the Earth and its beauty, and it doesn’t have to only be through recycling (though, that’s not a bad idea!). Today, I thought I’d share five simple ways to appreciate the planet that we live on in honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.

1. Invest in a reusable bottle. I’m 100% more likely to drink water if it comes out of a bottle (albeit, a cute bottle) versus pouring it in a glass. I’m not sure why that is, but I am well aware that water bottles eventually end up in landfills if not properly recycled. Admittedly, recycling is not something that is easy or that I think about often, especially when I am at work. I don’t want to cause more problems for the planet, so I’ve started carrying around a reusable water bottle to fill up throughout the day. It doesn’t feel like I’m saving the planet, but at least I know that I am doing my part. My favorite reusable bottles are Camelbak and S’well.
2. Go outside! No matter where you live, you can still appreciate the Earth by soaking in the natural beauty that surrounds you. Walk along the water. Wander through a meadow. Hike along the mountains. Even in today’s quarantining climate, sit out on your front steps or back patio. Listen to the sounds of nature. Don’t forget to take a deep breath of fresh air.
3. Plant flowers. Admittedly, I don’t have the biggest green-thumb, but there is nothing I love more than big, blooming flowers. Head to your local garden center or farmer’s market and pick up the prettiest flower you see, take it home, and plant it somewhere you’ll see it often to remind you that some of the most simple things in life are the most beautiful. A lot of local garden centers are even offering delivery to allow you to stay safe at home! Don’t have a place to garden? Buy a potted plant for indoors!
4. Make a fresh vegetable sourced dinner. After all, the veggies that we know and love wouldn’t be here without the Earth. One of my upcoming projects include planting my own vegetable garden so that I can enjoy an endless supply of my favorite veggies this summer! Two of my favorite veggie-heavy meals are Roasted Vegetables (I like to make a sheet pan dinner of broccoli, butternut squash, red onions and portabello mushrooms, but you could really use whatever you like!) and Corn and Zucchini Quiche. You can find a link to the recipe here.
5. Reminisce on Earth’s most beautiful places. I have been blessed to see some of the most beautiful places in the United States, let alone the world. When I’m there, I always think, “How could I ever forget this view?”, but then life happens, and I find myself thinking less about it. So today, I’m going to scroll back through old pictures and flip through some scrapbooks for just another glimpse of the beauty I’ve seen. If you haven’t been anywhere jaw-dropping, take a moment to make a list of places that you hope to visit! My favorites include Acadia National Park, the Inside Passage in Alaska, Jamaica, and the Grand Canyon.

In this post, I’ve included pictures from some of the trips that I’ve been on with either Jody or my family. I’m so grateful to have visited these places and to have such beauty around me on a daily basis. I’m eager for the day that I will be able to continue on my post-quarantine travels to even more breathtaking corners of the world, but until then, I’m going to go for a walk through the woods and maybe even begin to plan my garden.