The sand massages my feet, each grain working its magic as I look out over the sparkling ocean. The tide is low and small waves of turquoise sway to-and-fro, a rolling ramba that meets the shore with a swoosh.

A row of shells decorate the sand in a curving pattern that reveals how far the sea has made it past the shoreline. Just then a seagull cries out and a flash of white wings swoop down in a fluid motion. Lining the edge of the beach is a row of emerald trees with bright leaves rustling in the breeze.  

As I breathe in the salty air, my eyes instinctively close. I take in the sounds, the smells and the beauty that surrounds me. My shoulders feel light and a sense of calm washes over me.

I always feel completely at peace when I immerse myself in nature. Whether I am lying on a sandy beach, taking a stroll in the woods or paddle boarding on the lake, nature helps me to forget my troubles for a while. It is also where I feel close to God, amidst sea spray and pine fragrance, rolling hills and exquisite sunsets. 

Nature has the ability to relax the body and calm the mind, and it’s not only me. Green environments and natural sounds have been linked with relaxation and well-being for many years. In fact, research shows that sounds of nature can physically alter our brain’s connection, reducing our body’s natural fight-or-flight instinct.*  

This is a great reason to get out in nature and enjoy it with our loved ones and teach our children to connect with nature as often as possible, so that they develop a deep appreciation of it. Apart from the health benefits, they will understand the need to care for our beautiful environment. 

In April we celebrate Earth month, and it’s a great time to appreciate te wonders of our beautiful planet and how much we get from it; recreation; food; water; healing. Let’s make sure we do everything we can to protect it for future generations. 

Here are a few ways we can be kinder to our earth: 

Save water: turn the tap off while brushing teeth; take a shorter shower; fix dripping taps

Save energy: switch lights off when not in use;  install eco-friendly light bulbs; open windows for air instead of using the AC

Reduce emissions: walk or cycle short distances; car pool; buy locally produced products as they have traveled less

Reduce plastic: Use cloth shopping bags ; use reusable containers & water bottles; choose paper over plastic where possible

* Research reference:  https://www.nature.com/articles/srep45273

As I sit at my desk writing this article, a tall glass is placed next to my laptop, half full (positivity!) of water. Filling a glass with fresh, clean water from the tap in my kitchen has become a mindless task and I hardly ever give thought to how lucky I am to have safe drinking water available to me just a few steps away, whenever I want it. 

However 2.2 billion people globally face a very different reality, without the luxury of ‘water-on-demand’. In fact, the average distance round trip that women and children in the developing world walk for water (water that is often contaminated with life-threatening diseases) is 6km (3.7 miles). Can you imagine having to carry a 20-liter can for 3km every single day?

Climate change, coupled with water mismanagement and overconsumption, is causing droughts and water shortages across many parts of the globe, with 3 billion people being impacted already, and this is only going to worsen over time.

World Water Day is an annual campaign supported by the United Nations to draw attention to the value of fresh water for the environment and highlight the need to fight its scarcity globally.

This topic is very close to my heart, and the reason why I added a few kid-friendly water-saving tips at the end of Two Little Raindrops. I believe that we should help our children to understand the need to conserve water and form water-saving habits from an early age. 

I also believe that even small changes can make a big difference in the long run. 

We urgently need to protect and preserve this precious resource for future generations. Luckily, there are a few really easy, fuss-free things that you can do at home to save water: 

1. Depending on the showerhead (older model vs water-efficient), showers can use 8-17 litres per minute.
   The average bathtub has a capacity of 140 litres.
   Take a quick shower instead of a bath; use water-efficient shower heads
   
2. Sprinklers and standard garden hoses can use 18 litres per minute.
   Collect rainwater for the garden; use timer settings for sprinklers 
   
3. If water is left running while brushing teeth, a family of four brushing their teeth twice a day can waste 121 litres of water.
   Turn the tap off as often as possible while brushing teeth
   
4. A dripping/ leaking tap can waste up to 150 litres of water per day.
   Get water leaks fixed as soon as possible
   
5. Your dishwasher will use between 13.4 to 60 litres per load/cycle and your washing machine between 61 and 135 litres per wash, depending on the size and water ratings. 
   Run them with full loads where possible 

It’s amazing how small changes repeated consistently become habits in no time. And while we are making a big difference, we will also be saving on our water bill each month! It’s a win-win situation.  

Sources
UN World Water Development report
https://beaversdentistry.com/saving-water-while-you-brush-your-teeth/ 
https://bettermeetsreality.com/how-much-water-common-household-appliances-devices-use/

When I was young, my parents used to do their monthly grocery shopping at a local supermarket in Johannesburg, where I was born. My mom would take my brothers, my sister and I along and we would take turns pushing the trolley (or cart, as it is known in Canada). After the ‘boring’ sections were done (produce, detergents…) we came to the fun sections. Sweets, toys and books!   

My parents had four kids. Four. Two girls and two boys. So instead of toys, they encouraged us to choose a book, which was far better than a toy as one book entertained all of us, and we could enjoy it over and over again. 

Amongst my favorite were the Ladybird books. Sometimes we would pick a classic fairy tale, and other times we chose titles like ‘Smoke and Fluff’ and ‘The Magic Porridge Pot’. Seeing a vintage Ladybird book edition now, with its familiar cover, stirs up nostalgic feelings of happiness, sharing, laughter, and of course tracing my fingertips over all the miniature characters on the beautifully illustrated inside covers. 

A book is still one of the best gifts you can give to a child. It has the power to ignite the imagination or teach something important. It introduces children to new ideas and builds knowledge of the world around them. As they learn about different places, people and things, they learn to see the world from other perspectives. Whether the stories are fiction or non-fiction, there are a wide variety of concepts and ideas to be learned. 

It must have been tough for my parents to raise four children, making sure that all our needs were met and still managing to squeeze in some extras. I am forever grateful for the monthly story books from the supermarket as they provided more than just entertainment; they offered knowledge, imagination, and a love for reading that will last a lifetime.