How to Love Being Green
 New York, NY
 Views: 11,000
 by Devorah Stone

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There are so many other priorities, so many claims on your time, money and energy. Being green often seems like just one more thing in your life. You want to work towards an everyday green lifestyle but don't know where to start.



I started with plastic bags. I had way too many of them. They were threatening to take over my closet. I bought a cloth bag. I took it wherever I shopped. I felt proud walking down the street with my cloth reusable bag, people noticed. More people started to take their cloth bags to the store. Grocery stores deducted three cents for every cloth bag I used, it added up. I found carrying cloth bags easier than multiple small plastic. Eventually a local grocery store chain banned plastic bags.



This one act, led to others. I became concerned about our oceans. Reports of fish and sea mammals dying from plastic galvanized me. If the soap I used wasn't good for the sea how could it be good for my family? Everyday I found new ways to grow green, most of all it felt good, as I was making a difference in the world.



Stephanie Flowers Storkey couldn't stand throwing anything out that could be recycled to the point of taking glass bottles and paper from work home to recycle. Concern about landfills and the ocean grew once she became a step mom and then a mother.



There are so many ways to approach the same problem concern for animals can lead you to become more concerned about where your food comes from and how it gets to you. A dread of wastefulness can lead to turning off those lights more often. Worry about how much land is used for landfills spurs families to recycle and reuse as much as possible. Inge de Vries wanted to save time and money by doing multiple errands in one trip, thus cutting down on green house emissions.



Nothing seems to inspire people more than their children or nieces and nephews. Keeping the world cleaner less cluttered so their children will have clean air and water is a huge motivator. Think about who you are doing it for and why. Write it down.



Start doing the one thing you believe in the most. Soon a green lifestyle isn't a chore, it isn't just one more thing its part of who you are.



Tips for growing green:


Start with what you feel passionate about. What do you really care about? The oceans? The air? Landfills?
If it's the oceans then consider what is going down your drain and what you can replace it with.
If it's the air, consider buying a more energy efficient car or using your car less.
If its landfills then reduce and recycle whatever you can.
Pair it up with something else like living a simpler life, saving money, or less clutter.
Want to save on gas, time and save the planet? Do all your errands in the same place in one trip.
Perhaps you want to lose weight, walk or bicycle to the store or work leave the car at home.
Want to save money, then start with what you can reduce and reuse. Use left over food, print on both sides of the paper and stop buying bottled water.
Keep it simple and part of your routine.
Replace your light bulbs with more efficient ones as they burn out.
Quick check all your lights before you go out. Unplug your computer before you go to bed.
Simple actions like these save so much energy and will soon become routine.
Get help. Don't do it all yourself enlist your family.
Find other like minded people and organizations.
Join an organic or local food coop.
There is strength in numbers.



Living and loving being green starts with passion and ends with a better world for everyone.

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Last updated  New York, NY 09.10.13  by Devorah Stone