Flip-Flops, Therapy and Oceans …

The month of July is here—one of my favorite months of the entire calendar year. From patriotic Independence Day celebrations to honor those that serve and sacrifice to protect our cherished freedoms to planned vacations packed with summer beach fun, the arrival of July usually signals the much-anticipated transition from the mundane grind of the world of work to the “no set agenda” world of playful pleasure. Yes … it’s time to sloooowwwww it down just a bit and enjoy life; we’ve worked hard, now let’s play even harder!

I always look forward to trading my high-heeled shoes for flip-flops and my day planner for no plan at all. And where will you find me? Of course, reclining in my favorite place on God’s green Earth—the beach—to soak up some sunrays while I hurry up and do nothing at all. The ocean is a great counselor, comforter and therapist with the very best office décor! The world’s oceans are priceless; however, we (as a human race) often treat them as if they aren’t worth a penny. We cannot exist without them, but they can without us—think about that while you enjoy the view. Here are some sobering facts to consider while you join me on the shoreline.

According to research and statistics, more than 817 animal species around the world are impacted by ocean pollution—a figure that reflects a 23 percent increase in the last five years alone. Moreover, plastics are the most common pollution element found in the world’s oceans today; and they are particularly harmful to the environment due to the fact that they are often mistaken for food by marine animals and birds and plastics do not break down and degrade easily. According to a study done by the University of Georgia, each year, 18 billion pounds of plastic trash enters into the Earth’s oceans.

Here is another cold bucket of wet research reality: At any moment, as much as 25 trillion pieces of plastic debris floats in the oceans killing more than 1 million sea birds and 100,000 marine animals from plastic entanglement and ingestion. Some of the most common items found in coastal cleanups around the world include food wrappers, plastic cigarette butts, plastic bottle caps and beverage bottles, and plastic straws and drink stirrers. The fact is that the choices we (as humans) make each day impact the environment, including our oceans. Activities such as agricultural practices; coastal tourism; port, harbor and urban development; mining; fishing; aquaculture; and manufacturing, among others, can all be very problematic.

I don’t want to take the fun out of summer and forecast heavy rain on otherwise beautiful, sunny July days; however, in light of the obvious, we (and that means you too) must do something. Let’s take the initiative and make more sustainable lifestyle choices with regard to what we purchase; the activities that we engage in; and the respect, gratitude and care that we display toward our oceans. Let’s learn the importance of and practice environmental stewardship. In a phrase: reduce, reuse and recycle!

Enjoying the view,

Annette Briggs