{image by Brittney Bush}
April begins and Earth Day is approaching, each year we celebrate Earth Day, which is intended to inspire us to be more aware and appreciate the Goodness of Mother Earth.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed with trying to be Greener? With so much information coming at us from all directions, and telling us what is good and what is not, what we should make from scratch and where we should buy products? Sometimes I feel a little lost.
Making the decision of living a Greener Lifestyle can a bit daunting.
Just approaching the topic of food makes my head spin. The word Organic has got me so confused…Organic vs. Non Organic or GMO vs. Organic. It’s difficult navigating the world of GREEN. It can be a very complex process and it takes time, energy, and focus. There is this underlying feeling with “going green”–a kind of all or nothing when it comes to taking the first step in living a Green lifestyle.
I made the decision to not worry about becoming 100% compliant with a Green Lifestyle. I decided to make 3 Monumental Areas of Change on my Green Living journey. I sat down each April and looked at my lifestyle and figured out what I could impact with ease and grace instead of moans and groans. I gave myself 1 year to commit to my best laid out plans. I would do my best and not worry about the rest.
No magic formula can completely transform your life to evolving to a green lifestyle. However, each time you consciously decide to live your life with more consciousness, you are moving closer to a greener lifestyle.
If you can, dedicate time to develop a simple plan custom made for you. If you can, begin by taking smaller steps and extracting a few things that you would like to do and start with those little things. A greener life will begin to evolve for you.
I heard someone say this one time and I gently remind myself of it each day “inch by inch is a cinch and yard by yard is hard.” Don’t worry about arriving to your greener lifestyle overnight. You can become greener by taking small steps each day, month or year.
My first I choice was to cut back on wipes and paper towels. I decided using paper towels and wipes was getting out of hand in my household. I did not completely remove both at once from my life. I reduced my purchasing and I replaced micro fiber cloths to use for minor spills and weekly cleaning. I was buying 3 rolls a month and going thru 1 container of wipes a month. But slowly I let them go, until now I buy 1 roll (green) of paper towels every 3 months. I use about 3 rolls a year. I found replacing the thing I was giving up more effective and it helped support my decision of releasing paper towels/wipes.
My second choice was personal products. I chose deodorant, face scrub and baby powder. I spent some time scouring recipes for home made recipes, began saving containers, and even began asking friends what they liked about their products.
I then began experimenting with each product figuring out what I liked in texture, scent, longevity and of course cost ratio. I found that I love making my own products. I had more control of the scent and also knew exactly where it came from and what exact ingredients were in the product. Surprisingly enough, I like my versions of baby powder and face scrub more than what I was previously buying.
My third choice was planting a garden. I went down to my local nursery and asked a bunch of questions. I found friends who had a passion for gardening and received some incredible tips. I also went to the library to look at garden books. I tracked what I bought on a consistent basis from the grocery store and looked at the seasonal items vs. the all year round. I planted my veggies and watched them grow. I realized I would not have the discipline to water often so I used a drip system. My garden grew and soon I was plucking vegetables for my dinner. I was so inspired that the following year I planted another garden–an herb garden for my seasoning.
Pick something you would like to change in your life and then replace the item you let go. I think it’s easier to create a habit than break one. It’s kind of the same concept, don’t focus on what you’re letting go of, focus on what you are gaining, a Green Lifestyle.
If you can begin with the changes you want to see in a natural process for yourself, you will be more inclined to commit to your change. Are you getting started on your Green journey? Are you already on a Green journey and ready to kick it up a notch?
Every journey begins somewhere. You may find yourself anxious, nervous, apprehensive, excited, happy, eager… all of those emotions can make you feel rushed to reach your goal but take a fresh green approach this year. Decide on 1, 2 or 3 areas of change and ease your way to a greener pasture! Avoid trying to break habits and put your energy on creating a new habit and soon it will be 2013 and you will be one step closer to a Green Lifestyle. Each goal can forever change the way we view our lives and the world around us.
Planting Peacefulness,
Shelley
