I read a really interesting post by lilwatchergirl called “It’s not easy being green and disabled” and I have been thinking about it ever since.
Ever since I became very sick over 18months ago, it has been concerning me how much impact my life now has on the environment. Previously I would walk as much as possible instead of driving, take public transport into the city, only have the heater on when it was REALLY cold (That’s what a jumper’s for…) and try not to use too many appliances unnecessarily.
Now I have the heater on most of winter and air conditioner on if the temperature is above 30 degrees… If I get too hot or cold my symptoms increase to the point of either being very painful and even dangerous. For example in the heat I can’t even stand up without falling over.
Because I am at home on my own all day I have the television or stereo on all the time and also the computer often – even though I’m not always watching it it makes me feel less alone. If I go to the corner store I have to have my partner drive me down as I can’t walk that far or drive myself.
So I do the small things that I can do – open all blinds so I only use the lights I need to, by default I don’t use the car a lot as I get very motion sick lately, and don’t have the energy to be out for very long.
I eat organic food as much as possible, no processed foods – we make all our food from scratch (when I say ‘we’ I mean Mick as he does all the cooking) 
and we buy all our vegetables from a local veggie shop which means it is locally grown, not driven or flown a million miles! That has to save a lot of petrol and chemicals and factory consequences…
It is a bit challenge for me not to blame myself and feel guilty for the use of heaters, TV, etc but I try and remember that it is not because of pure indulgence or laziness and at least I am evaluating whether or not I need these things.
I am glad this topic has been brought up because it is a challenge and one which is often overlooked by society when it comes to living with a disability or illness.
