I don’t typically get excited over the big things. But the little things that usually go unnoticed, now that’s where I get my thrills or in some cases concerns. Yes, I know, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.” However, I’m a conservationist down to the bone and needless waste or Styrofoam really disturbs me. In fact, as a server in a breakfast shop, I tried to convince patrons that they didn’t need a Styrofoam cup and could use a mug. My boss told me to stop, but he didn’t realize I really couldn’t help myself. I spent endless hours in my twenties mulling over what products to buy. Sure, number one on my checklist: Do I need it? Then I would consider cost, and finally the amount of packaging. If I couldn’t avoid packaging, then could I reuse or recycle it? In 1991, Germany adopted its “Packaging Ordinance,” which required all manufacturers to collect and then recycle or reuse their packaging after it was disposed of by consumers. It was brilliant! I loved the idea and of course, it no doubt reduced wasteful packaging. When you hit a company in their pockets, you’re sure to see a change.
One thing that really gives me a thrill is when I find a solution to a problem. The most recent problem was the new toothpaste tubes; have you notice that they make removing toothpaste very difficult? They are now made from a thick flexible plastic that is hard to roll. Once you extract some toothpaste it goes back to its original shape, it cannot be easily flattened out like the metal ones or the thinner previous plastic ones. So much toothpaste is wasted, which is good for the manufacturer’s pocket, but frustrating for a conservationist and a consumer with limited funds. In the past, Mike and I would silently compete on who could extract the last bit of toothpaste out of the old tubes, neither of us wanted to concede that we needed to open a new tube. Nevertheless, with these new tubes if you manually squeeze them, it is impossible to get the last bit of the toothpaste out; if you are lucky you might get 80%. It made me crazy. My Mom had an even harder time as her hands aren’t strong enough to squeeze the paste out and she was looking for a new tube after using only 50% of its contents. So, I am thrilled to say, we found a fabulous solution ~ a toothpaste squeezer! So simple and it works great! Everyday, I watch how this handy device moves up the toothpaste tube without wasting a drop ~ now that’s a thrill. Bonus, most people don’t know it but if the tube is made from #4 plastic it can be recycled.
Now that is flat!
I know this might seem rather insignificant in regards to the state of our country and world right now, but hey, you gotta see the good and enjoy any accomplishment no matter how small. These moments of making a positive difference help me get through the day.
Check out how thin this tube is!
What gives you a thrill? Please share and I will continue to share.
Seventeen years ago, my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. She is one of the lucky ones. After removing the entire lung, chemotherapy, radiation treatment and a whole bunch of other things, she was proclaimed cancer free within six months of her diagnosis. Cancer free is always music to the ears after a battle with cancer. Nevertheless, I am not writing about cancer today, I am writing about a simple tool that helped us navigate and get through the medical labyrinth with relative ease. We still use it today.