The more we have, the more we waste. It strikes me every day. If this were my last (fill in the blank), would I take better care of it, use it again, be more grateful for it?

I’ve cooked with a friend who thought I was crazy for cutting off the dried parts of the leftover onion in the refrigerator to use that before cutting a new one. He also used a million paper towels in one dinner prep, where a roll lasts me almost a year. I’m sure he has less angst over most things than I do.

I think people can be divided into two groups: the ones that add a little water to what remains of the shampoo in the bottle to stretch it and use it up, and those that just open the next one.

Not sure if it’s about the time it takes to do a little extra. Maybe it’s not seeing the benefit of stretching resources when there’s plenty. I still imagine these tiny efforts mean I’m treading a little lighter on the Earth. Although that amount is probably negligible, for the many people I know who think this way, I know it’s hard to put aside.

We throw away so many things because we know we’ll have more, but we’d feel differently if that were the last of it. I think this isn’t limited to things we consume, but of many resources in our lives – time, money and even people.

I’m not suggesting you save every window envelope that comes with your bills, eat spoiled food, and never buy anything new. I do think being aware of the excess we have grown comfortable with can help us change habits. We can be more mindful of our choices, waste less and live more meaningfully.

We can try to step outside of thinking of what has value to us and think about what might have value to someone else.

If you’re looking for more ways to re-home what you no longer need..or what you never needed in the first place, check out our Helping the Helpers and Donations Before Dumpsters resources. If you don’t see what you’re looking for there, send us an email. And if you’re looking for ways to get more engaged with your community around issues like these, you can reach out to us about that, too.