Resolution Redux

So far I've kept up my WoYoPracMo resolution to do yoga every day in January. It's often just ten lovely minutes of restorative poses before bed, but I've squeezed in a couple longer practices, too. I think I'm technically supposed to blog about my practice every day, but I'm not finding that very interesting. Just in case you were dying to know or anything.

Regarding my resolution to go a little bit more green in 2008, I decided my initial pledge to make one new environmentally friendly decision each month was kind of pansy-assed. The baby seals and spotted owls could all be long dead by the time I make my twelfth change a year from now. Plus, now that I've made the pledge to be more environmentally conscious, I find that it's top of mind and naturally affects all of my decision making. So I decided to up the ante and instead make 12 new eco-friendly decisions this month instead of spreading them out over the course of the year. Hopefully I'll make those 12 changes permanent and then keep adding new ones.

I already wrote about green change #1, reducing the number of unwanted catalogs we receive at home. Today I also sent a couple e-mails at work to get off of mailing lists for newsletters and conference brochures I don't want.

Over the weekend I made a couple more changes. Green change #2 was to start using reusable bags for grocery shopping. I have a collection of canvas bags and was religious about using them when I lived in Des Moines. Somehow since moving to Fairfield that habit has changed and I keep forgetting to use the canvas bags. That's another change that is so easy if I just get into the habit of using them. So I've moved the canvas bags to the same hook where I keep my purse so I don't have an excuse to forget them.

I also spent about $7 on a cute little reusable bag that attaches to my key chain, so I have it with me when I decide to run by the store for a couple things. My last two trips to the store = no disposable plastic bags.

Green change #3 was to use reusable packaging for the white elephant gift exchange with Glen's family over the weekend. My package is the cute little bright blue box. I noticed a couple other people also used reusable packaging.

Green change #4 was declining receipts at both the ATM and the gas station.

These are all such junior-varsity level changes that I almost hesitate to make a big show of giving myself credit for them. I know some of you take more significant environmentally friendly actions in your own lives. But over the course of the year my easy little actions could save a tree or two. And if I inspire a couple more people to rethink some of their everyday actions and make simple changes in their lives, then I've done some good.

Comments

[Janet]

Hi Missy: Your cousins received aluminum water bottles by Sigg for Christmas...even a cute little one for Dane. I saw them on a going green show earlier this year. I thought I would be able to find them locally but even the big sports stores didn't have them. I had to order from Amazon. A little pricey but if they no longer purchase the plastic it will have been well worth it. Love the blog. Janet

[Heather Miller-Rodriguez]

Missy, that is AWESOME!

I love those little keychain bags, I gave a bunch out as Christmas presents this year.

Don't ever hesitate to take credit for what you are doing right! It shows both yourself and others how many easy and little things we can do to make a difference that adds up the more people do them. We need more people putting their ideas out there and making it mainstream, everyday thinking.

I was shocked at how many of my co-workers didn't recycle their soda/juice cans and bottles, and most of them said it was more a matter of habit and that they didn't do it growing up, so they just forget about it. But maybe my example put some new cues in their heads. I hope so!