Living With Gratitude for What We Already Have

Recently, I watched the Netflix documentary "The True Cost: Buy Now." It painted a vivid picture of how our consumption habits impact the planet. The sheer scale of production and waste we generate today is staggering. Before industrialization, we didn’t produce or consume at such an overwhelming pace.

But this isn’t about suggesting we go back to living without modern conveniences like electricity. It’s about pausing to reflect on the stories behind the things we use every day and fostering a sense of gratitude for them.

When you consider the resources, labor, and energy that go into making the items we use, it changes how you view possessions. You start to think about what happens to them after they’re tossed in the trash. And you realize the things we casually buy and discard often come back to us – as waste that lingers.

This realization was the spark for Tidalove. I wanted to create something different: an alternative like solid toothpaste that could reduce plastic waste while protecting our health.

Start With What You Already Have

If you’re not using solid toothpaste yet, don’t feel pressured to rush out and buy it right away. Protecting the environment doesn’t have to mean immediately replacing what you already have. Instead, focus on using what’s in your home with gratitude until it’s completely finished.

When I took stock of all the toothpaste in my house, I was shocked. There were tubes I’d bought on sale, samples from the dentist – more than I expected.
Start by gathering what you already have. Use every bit, even cutting open the tube to scrape out what’s left. You’d be surprised how much longer it lasts.

Did you know that most plastic toothpaste tubes can’t be recycled in the U.S.? Learning this changed how I thought about my purchases. Once you realize the impact, you naturally start considering more sustainable options.

The Same Goes for Your Closet

Minimalism isn’t about mindlessly discarding things. At its core, it’s about valuing and using what you already own.

Take your wardrobe, for example. If there’s something you haven’t worn in a while, try it on today. You might rediscover it and fall in love with it all over again. Or, if it doesn’t feel right after a day, that’s your sign to pass it on.

Here are a few ways to give your clothes a second life:

• Sell them at secondhand stores like Plato’s Closet.

• List them on platforms like ThredUp or Poshmark.

Selling isn’t about the money – it’s about ensuring these items get a chance to be loved and used longer. If selling isn’t an option, donate them to people or organizations that truly need them.

The more thoughtful you are about organizing and letting go, the more mindful you’ll become about bringing new things into your life.

The True Cost of Consumption

Running a business has taught me how the system works. Companies maximize profits by selling more, selling more frequently, and selling faster.
Every detail – from product design to marketing – is optimized to encourage consumer purchases.

As a small seller on Amazon, I see this firsthand. Every Tidalove product photo undergoes A/B testing to find the most effective version. Colors, descriptions, and even layouts are adjusted to boost sales.

This isn’t unique to my business; it’s the way the system operates. The documentary "Buy More" reveals startling numbers:

• 2.5 million pairs of shoes are produced every hour.

• 68,733 smartphones are manufactured every hour.

• 12 tons of plastic are produced every second.

We focus so much on buying and producing that we rarely stop to think about what happens after.

Consider What Happens Next

It’s time to ask ourselves important questions about the things we purchase:

• Where will this item go after I’m done with it?

• Will it become waste, or can it be recycled?

• Could it have been made with more sustainable materials?

Living sustainably doesn’t mean being perfect. It’s about making small, thoughtful changes that reduce waste and finding gratitude in what you already own.

These small, consistent actions add up to meaningful change.
Because at the end of the day, the best way to reduce waste is to fully use and appreciate what you already have.