My boyfriend and I really couldn't be much different. Everything from the way we eat to the overall way we live - there aren't many similarities, aside from the things that I've successfully taught him [forced upon him.] I can't imagine that we'd ever find one another based on an "E Harmony" compatibility report. He lives off of a diet rich in Fruit Loops and Chick-Fil-A, while I constantly strive - and stress about - eating as many whole foods as I can get my hungry little hands on. I work out everyday while he smokes a pack a day (almost.) I read books while he thoughtlessly watches TV. The list goes on.
Lately I've discovered an all new and highly irritating difference that Nick possesses. He's turned into one of those wasteful, mindless Americans. The kind that throws aluminum cans into the trash - the trash! Meanwhile, the recycling bin sits right beside it, a gentle reminder to make the right decision. But no. He opts for the trash. He leaves the bedroom light on almost every time he leaves the house. He wants the A/C at 68 degrees. SIXTY EIGHT DEGREES! Are you kidding me? I'm forced to wear sweatpants in the dead heat of summer. He'll leave the car running outside for 5 minutes while he runs into Starbucks. Starbucks. Car running. Oh God, it's making my heart race just thinking about it.
So what happened? Was it all just a show, and now after some four years, the gig is up and he doesn't care to "impress" me with his environmental mindfulness? After a particularly irritating day filled with him using about every utensil and dish in the house (whatever happened to using the same cup twice? Three times, maybe even FOUR times?) I told him that I'm getting very anal about all his waste, and he just smirked and said, "What? I'm trying!"
Just how hard do you have to "try" to do things that, by now, should be second nature? And even if it isn't second nature, reusing, recycling, conserving, etc. are all things that you should care enough about to take the time to do, even if it's not the easiest option. He isn't one of those people who doesn't care about the environment, or doesn't believe in global warming. I think he represents a huge population in our country, of people who do care and do realize we have a problem, but they just don't understand how much their daily routines are contributing to that problem.
Seeing as how my own contributions to global warming constantly nag at me, and cause me an endless amount of anxiety that I'm still being so wasteful even after trying so hard - I harbor some resentment for those ignoramuses who simply don't realize what they're doing. My overflowing recycling bin stresses me out - all the packaging, all the containers. I know that recycling isn't a cure-all. But as least I'm cognizant of it all - right? I mean, to think that little ol' me is actually going to make a huge environmental difference is ridiculous. But if we all think like that then we're screwed.
It just ain't fair. It's not fair that, while some of us carry this gigantic environmental burden, others get to roam, ravage, and rape the earth as they please. And at the end of the day (or world), does any of it make a difference?
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