Brenna Without Borders

I was raised to appreciate the great outdoors.  My dad, raised in the city, has spent his entire existence as a father, encouraging us to get outside.  Biking, hiking, camping, fishing.  Because of him, I have done it all.  My mom, raised in the country, finds God when she marvels at the wonders of nature.  The beach is her happy place, she passed this along to me. The night sky brings her peace and sometimes i think reassures her the existence of a higher power.  It wasn’t abnormal for her to wake me up to go look at the moon, or witness a meteor shower in the middle of the night. 

I was raised to look for the little blessings God gifts us everyday in nature. Like the moment  you walk up over the dunes to see the beach for the first time. Or catch a sunset on your drive home that is so breathtaking, you pull over just to watch the day end. 

When I was 20 years old, I was walking on a beach in Jupiter, Florida in the middle of the afternoon.  No one was around, no phone in my hand.  It was just me, the waves, and the sand.  As I walked a saw movement ahead.  Slowly, but surely, the small dark object inched its way towards the water.  I got closer, as if from a dream, a baby sea turtle pushing itself into the sea for the first time. Clearly the last from his nest, he was dedicated to making it into the waves.I was giddy with excitement and also nervous for the little guys well being.  What if he doesn’t make it? I was that little turtle’s biggest fan; keeping my distance, cheering him on, rooting for his survival, and praying to God that he made it all the way out into the sea.  I stood there until he was well into the waves and clearly past their breaking point.  Like a proud mom, I saw him off on the first steps of his long journey.   There was no one to tell, no way to document this moment.  Yet somehow that made it better.  It was like God picked this out perfectly for me.  

You can imagine my outrage when I found out that plastic straws are killing the sea turtles. Single use plastic in general is a serious problem for marine life specifically. I don’t have any statistics to share and I haven’t done a ton of research – YET.  This year, I am determined to start the journey towards plastic free living. I hope to make choices that are better for our planet as a whole and be more aware of the waste I produce as a single individual.

As I begin this challenge for myself of becoming more eco-friendly and cutting down on my plastic usage, I will be documenting what I learn on this blog. 

Of all the places I have traveled and seen, my favorites have been the natural beauty, usually near an ocean with clear blue water. I want to protect those places, keep them clean for other visits, and even though I’m one person, I’d like to believe that these small steps I take will have an impact in saving the sea turtles and saving our beautiful earth.