If we did all the things
we are capable of doing,
we would literally astound ourselves.
-Thomas Edison
The Monday between Christmas and New Year’s- seems a natural time to sit back and reflect on how this past year has gone.
I didn’t actually make any New Year’s Resolutions in 2008, being the sort of contrary person who refuses to do things like that; i.e. a general pain in the butt who doesn’t like to be caught out breaking resolutions.
However, somewhere in April I read a book titled This Year I Will…: How to Finally Change a Habit, Keep a Resolution, or Make a Dream Come True
How did I do? Well, I do wake up earlier in the morning. I am less negative and hyper-critical; I find time to play with my daughter every day, no matter how ridiculous or mind-numbing the game of choice may be. I also write every day, and find daily ways to be happy.
I am still not very good at “clean-as-you-go”, or at remembering that sarcasm is not the same as humor.
But I found many ways to tread more lightly on the earth.
As a family in 2008, we totally did away with paper towels, paper napkins, and tissues, opting instead for fabric replacements. We still use paper TP, but it is Marcal, with recycled content.
We switched over to baking soda, vinegar, borax, and club soda for our household cleaning.
We began to purchase local and organic produce, and eco-friendly detergents.
We buy 100% recycled content paper for the printer.
We bought pretty much nothing new that we didn’t absolutely need.
We harvested the compost from our worm farm and used it in our organic vegetable garden.
We gardened! With marginal success!
We conserved energy in a lot of different ways.
We took part in the One Can a Month challenge and dramatically reduced the amount of trash we send to the landfill.
A lot of these actions saved us money, and we were able to make donations to charities without real hardship.
I wrote letters, signed petitions, and did what I could to raise awareness.
Most importantly, I think, we came out of the green closet.
We stopped apologizing for our treehugger ways. We stopped thinking of them as strange, or deviant; and we stopped caring if others saw us that way.
To our family, living mindfully and responsibly is now normal; it is a mindset that influences and informs our day-to-day choices, and we are proud of it.
I am no longer embarrassed by my clothes hanging on the line, or by how we decorate our house with things we make ourselves from recycled materials. I’m delighted to discuss green cleaning or native plants or the best sources of local meat with a casual acquaintance. I reveal my dozen or more reusable bags at the grocery store with a dramatic flourish. I am conspicuous. And I don’t mind.
Attitudes about green living are changing. Can you feel it?
Living lightly is no longer considered a lifestyle choice of the elite, or the dirty hippie, or the flaky granola girl, but rather one that is recognized as practical, frugal, and forward-thinking.
I think part of that change is attributable to the economy, of course; the realization that the American lifestyle as we knew it was unsustainable. Also coming into play: the emphasis that the incoming Obama team has put on climate change and renewable energy and other ecological and green collar matters; and the skyrocketing of gasoline prices that occurred earlier this year.
But I also like to think that part of it was the willingness of average people, in all shades of green, who were willing to wear their values on their sleeve.
To take responsibility, speak out, and lead by example.
Who made green less of a “lifestyle choice” and more of a “way of life”.
I have the greatest of hopes for 2009. I have new green resolutions to make.
Overall, I still want to live by the mantra of “Do all the good you can, every day that you can, in every little way that you can.”
But this year, no wishy-washy goal setting! I am working on real goals, specifics, nitty-gritties. I’ll post them here, in bold, and on other public forums. I’ll check in on them periodically and I’m counting on you to hold me accountable.
I’m excited! Are you excited for the new year to begin?
How did you do with your 2008 resolutions (if you made any?)
You know, I never made New Year's resolutions before either. I never wanted to make the same resolutions as anyone else. But this year I too am thinking about making some of my own, so that I have goals to work to and ways of measuring my achievements. I guess I'm starting to understand why people do that, too.
It's definitely easier with others to hold you accountable! I'm hoping for that too, should I make some goals for the year.
My main resolution was to get my health in order. Baby steps, but it's getting there. At least I hope it is.
For 2009, I am making a 43 things list and i am considering it a to-do list instead of resolutions. I like to-do lists. Resolutions have such a nasty habit of being broken. At least by me. So, a to-do list. Will post a link on my blog when done.