The Going Green Journey Begins with a Single Step

3 Important First Steps to set you on to Greener Pathways

To go green entails a change in lifestyle. There are so many little things that you can do, that it’s easy to get lost in the details of reducing that big fat carbon footprint. So we are going to zero in on the essentials. Because all action follows thought, awareness of key focal points in greening up is a good place to start.

Step 1: Become Aware of your Consumer Choices

What kind of food do you buy? Is it from the center of the grocery store where all the processed food is? Or… are you starting to consciously select from the organic shelves, passing by the old, familiar processed, unbeneficial food? Better yet, have you joined a food Co-op? You can make a difference in the quality of the food that is available to us all by using your food budget dollars to vote for fresh organic food, which is good for our health and good for the planet.

How do you get to work, run errands and get around? Are you just getting in the car every time you need or want to go somewhere? Or are you combining your trips to minimize gas usage and cut down on those emissions? Better yet, have you organized a carpool? Better still, do you bike or walk to the store and to work? Just eliminating one trip a week will minimize your impact on the environment significantly.

Step 2: Become Aware of how much Waste you produce

Are you thinking about where the stuff you buy will end up? Is that plastic container going to end up in the landfill…or did you remember to bring reusable containers for your bulk food purchases.

Did you just go out and buy a new fill-in-the-blank…or did you visit the thrift store looking for a good, pre-owned alternative?

Did you leave the house with the heater or air conditioner on…or did you remember to turn things off?

Have you made it a practice to keep your cloth grocery bags handy for your shopping etrips. Those plastic bags just have to go.

Step 3: Become Aware of How You can Simplify your Life.

Are you still attached to your oversized automobile/dwelling-place/budget/shoe collection…or have you given some thought to downsizing, de-cluttering, and doing with less?

You can get a taste of detaching from your “stuff” by giving your closet, storage area and kitchen cupboards and ruthless clean out.

Try unplugging for a few hours a week. Instead, take a walk, go outside and play with the kids or get together with friends.

You can start right now to learn about ways to minimize the negative impact you are having on the environment by:

a) Educating yourself about the products you use and the companies you are buying from and start making greener purchases.

b) Boycotting polluters, agri-businesses and water monopolies that are out of alignment with healthy, eco-conscious living.

c) Adding one new, greener practice to your way of life every day.

Starting today, you can walk lighter upon this earth, one purchase, one small step, one voice, one decision at a time. Greener pathways begin with a single green footstep.