"Hey, Mark, where do you sleep?" came the question in our family Viber group after I sent a photo of our occupied bed. You see, as soon as I get up for a glass of water or a quick trip to the bathroom, one or even both of our dogs take over my spot. When I return, they pretend to be in a deep sleep, leaving me to grab a blanket and relocate to the couch.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve answered the question, “Why do you let the dogs on the bed?” My response remains the same: "The more I get to know people, the more I love animals."

With the end of the Indian summer and the arrival of chilly northern winds forcing us to dig out warmer clothes, our "displaced family members"—our cats—started returning home. During summer, they scatter to other locations, and while I can’t say for sure if it’s the allure of better food, I can confidently vouch that my vegetarian wife doesn’t skimp on providing them with meat-based meals. Now that they’re back, they’ve reclaimed their cushions and, oddly enough, a wooden serving tray.

One cat in particular decided it was the perfect bed, so we’ve resigned ourselves to its new purpose, moving it to the top of the wardrobe to keep it out of the way. It’s no longer usable for serving drinks, but it’s certainly loved.

With colder days here, we’ve entered the “where are the sweaters?” phase of the season. Down here in the south, a seasonal shift can happen in a matter of hours, not days. In tandem, our family has launched the semi-annual operation of “Is anyone going to Zagreb? Is anyone coming back to Dubrovnik?” My wife and her sisters have perfected the art of swapping wardrobes: one outgrows something, another gets bored with her own, and a third ends up with an item that doesn’t fit. Their system is so efficient it could rival professional courier services.

In fact, my wife has taken this idea a step further by creating a "take or leave" corner at her salon. Clients can bring clothes and items they no longer need or pick up something that catches their eye. The concept works flawlessly.

This got me thinking about our consumer-driven world, where it’s nearly impossible to resist the flood of offers for cheap, often unnecessary items, particularly clothing. The fashion industry, second only to oil in terms of pollution, is a staggering contributor to environmental damage. Rapid trend cycles, low-cost labor, and cheap prices have created a fast-fashion epidemic with no end in sight. While charity sales and clothing swaps are noble efforts, they barely make a dent in the sea of discarded garments piling up every day.

The mantra "Think globally, act locally" feels more relevant than ever in a world drowning in overconsumption and ecological crises. It’s easy to feel powerless against issues like climate change, pollution, and deforestation, but meaningful change begins in the smallest corners of our lives. It starts when we choose to mend an old sweater instead of buying a new one, or when we swap clothes with friends rather than giving in to the lure of fast fashion. It even starts with repurposing a serving tray for a cat bed, showing that creativity and sustainability can breathe new life into objects.

These seemingly trivial decisions create ripples, encouraging others to reevaluate their habits. We’re constantly inundated with online marketplaces pushing ridiculously cheap goods—yes, I’m looking at you, Temu. By adopting a “take or leave” mindset—whether through spaces like my wife’s salon or simple acts of sharing—we demonstrate that generosity and resourcefulness go hand in hand.

Modern life often blurs the line between what we need and what we want, but when we pause to consider the impact of our choices, we rediscover what truly matters. It’s not about grand gestures but about small, consistent actions that reflect care for our planet and the people on it. Think globally, act locally—and remember, you don’t have to save the world in one day. Just make your little corner of it better, one step at a time.

Read more Englishman in Dubrovnik…well, if you really want to

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About the author

Mark Thomas (aka Englez u Dubrovniku) is the editor of The Dubrovnik Times. He was born and educated in the UK and moved to live in Dubrovnik in 1998. He works across a whole range of media, from a daily radio show to TV and in print. Thomas is fluent in Croatian and this column is available in Croatia on the website – Dubrovnik Vjesnik