Make a difference

Forgive me - I'm going to have a soapbox moment.

I need to state first and foremost - I am not a feminist.  I believe there is a place for both genders on this planet, and some of the things which each gender does are more suitable to the make-up of that gender.

For instance, I had tennis elbow about 7 - 8 years ago, and being full of know-it-all wisdom, ignored the pain for the first two weeks - after all I was younger - and was going to live forever!  When I finally went to the doctor it was to receive a course of cortisone injections.  Bad mistake.  The injections removed the pain, but not the damage.  I should've had physiotherapy.  The result of my hot-headedness is that I have a useless right arm, with very little power to do what is needed - even opening a jar is beyond my capabilities - and that is where RMan comes to my rescue.  I don't like this feeling of uselessness - it restricts me completely.

I am unable to produce any woodwork, install an irrigation system, change a tyre (even jumping up and down on the tyre wrench doesn't shift the wheel nuts) and, because of my arm, even starting a petrol engine lawnmower is out of my league.

However, I am more than capable of growing our vegetable needs, and am working on producing our daily bread using the least power available.  I have diminished the amount of chemicals brought into this house and try and recycle / re-purpose whenever possible. 

And I am able to nurture and nourish my family and keep my home in order, using the minimum of chemicals and the maximum of eco-friendly options.  And that nuturing has, in recent years, been given an additional direction - that of doing my bit in caring for our planet.  One small step at a time.

Don't think that I am a typically helpless member of the fairer sex by any means - I will try and do anything, and, only when that fails, will I ask for assistance.

However, with the blogs I follow I have noticed a trend.

Why is it that most of the people that leave comments on blogs which deal with self-sustainability and trying to make a difference to this planet with the lifestyle we choose to live, are mainly women?

Please - don't get me wrong - there are male bloggers out there that have stunning blogs, with all sorts of brilliant ideas.  For instance: Greenpa, Darren, frugal canadian hermit, John Wells, tffg, Herrick Kimball and Doc.

But the pattern continues.

Do women have the upper hand in leading the way forward for this planet?  Are we the Professors of the Present, as well as the Front runners of the Future in the field of sustainability and eco-awareness? Is it because we are constantly teaching our children / grandchildren, and it seems, in this instance, also our spouses? I understand that women have / make more time to blog, and are more interested in ways of the world, whereas the menfolk are more focused on providing the wherewith all for their families.  But, if we women don't make the effort, to educate ourselves, and therefore our families, how would we heal this planet?

Do we appreciate the responsibility of our task?

Personally, I revel in it - I thrive on making a difference, no matter how small - for all our collective baby steps can end up circumnavigating the planet if we but stay the course.

 
The more I discover the more I can share - in my home and on this bog - and, as Barney says, "sharing is caring" - be it caring for ourselves, our families, our neighbours, our country or our planet.  With a sharing / caring mindset, I believe, what we leave for the next generation can only benefit them.

So, more power to us women - let us willingly and happily, lead the way, direct and assist others - for all our sakes and, more importantly, for the sake of this beautiful planet we inhabit.

Does anyone care to join me on my mission? I would love to hear how you personally are fairing on your eco-friendly path.