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Earth Lovers: Wake Up!

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Today I woke up feeling a bit under the weather.  I felt strange because (a) well, because I felt sick and (b) because I usually never get sick.  Even in times where all three of my suitemates were sick and coughing and sneezing day and night, my immune system was able to ward off the illness, and I was able to continue on with my life.  So waking up this morning with a headache and feeling congested left me confused as to how to go about my day. 
 
I went to class, and still didn’t quite feel myself, so I proceeded to take a “nap,” which ended up lasting about five and a half hours.  Although I did feel better after I woke up, I mainly felt annoyed with myself for wasting almost an entire day sleeping.  I had homework to do, practices to attend, and this blog to write (the most important on my to-do list, obviously), among other things.  Even though I managed to get everything accomplished, I know that had I been able to prevent myself from getting sick in the first place, I would have been able to get ahead in my work and have a very productive day.
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We don’t usually contemplate the consequences of every single action we take.  We do things because we know they work or out of comfort, but how many people actually consider what will happen as a result of their actions?  Looking back and wishing for a time machine is easy, but actually doing takes effort—and it’s actually doing that counts for something.  Looking back, I know I could have loaded up on more vitamins and nutrients to make my immune system bulletproof, but since I didn’t, I am forced to face the outcome of my actions and deal with me being sick (which, fortunately, is not a huge dilemma). 
 
But what happens when our “bad habits” lead to something that isa big deal?  What will happen in the future if people don’t change their actions now to help our environment?  If everyone keeps taking 20 minute showers and doesn’t recycle, what will the future hold?  Let’s not be the reason that our future generations look back and wish for a time machine.  Let’s take action now and do what we can to prevent our earth from “getting sick” and work toward a healthy environment.  Let’s wake up and start doing today

xoxo

Do you think about how your everyday actions affect the world?  What are some things that everyone can do to help make for a better tomorrow?  Leave a comment below, email me (at melanieshimano@jhu.edu), or give me a shout-out on twitter telling me how you’re waking up to help the world.
 
And don’t forget to send in your submissions to the Earth Lovers Three-Minute Shower Challenge Youtube Contest! Need some inspiration? Check out my video here

Melanie Shimano (Johns Hopkins University, '13) is a Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering major originally from Orange County, California. She is currently involved in research at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and also spends her time with various on-campus groups including her sorority (Phi Mu!), Jaywalk Dance Team, and AIChE/SBE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers/Society for Biological Engineers). When she's not busy with school, some of her favorite things to do are shopping, hanging out with friends, and eating sprinkles cupcakes. And she definitely looks forward to going to the beach when she visits back home during breaks since it rains in Balitmore almost every day (but she still loves Hopkins).