When we meet at a cafe on a rainy Saturday afternoon, self-declared #earthwarrior Karyn Wong went for a steaming cup of hot tea — both for warmth and to avoid using a straw, she tells me.
I steal a glance at my own plastic straw peeking conspicuously out of a disposable cup. Oops.
But any guilt I feel is quickly dampened when she reassures me that her particular brand of environmental activism is more about celebrating the small successes rather than focusing on one’s imperfections (more on that later).
The 32-year-old works a part-time marketing job, does singing and mermaid performances on the weekends, occasionally DJs on Love 97.2 FM and somehow still finds the time to advocate for environmental issues, sharing daily updates and tips on her social media.
When asked what fuels her, she ponders for a second.
“It’s just a lifestyle that I want to achieve,” she explains. “It’s a way of living that I’m very accustomed to and want to celebrate.”