If My 10 Year Old Self Could See Me Now!

I remember thinking on my 10^th birthday that I couldn’t wait to be a grown-up, because I was going to set the world on fire and make a real impact on the planet. Then, at 25, I went through a quarter-life crises, realizing that I was, in fact, ordinary. I haven’t cured cancer or stopped global warming. Our problems today seem so vast and complicated, how can one tiny person make a dent in them? Its no wonder people get depressed just thinking about the problems we have to solve.

At 26  I realized that I didn’t have to change the entire world to make a difference. I just had to change the way I live MY life and set a positive example for the people around me. And that’s a big task. Living in Mobile, AL (not exactly a haven for environmentalists) makes it an even bigger challenge to live sustainably. It hasn’t always been easy (nothing worthwhile ever is), but my efforts to live in a small footprint have not only made me feel like I am in fact changing the world, it has made people around me see that living green is possible, even if we do reside in  Middle America. Its been a long journey. Here are a few highlights: I live in an old historic house in the revitalizing downtown area, less than 2 miles from my office so I can bike to work (public transportation here is virtually non-existant). I buy locally grown veggies and food whenever available, and buy organic when not. Then I went vegetarian – the toughest challenge so far. I still have a long way to go, and its an uphill battle, but the rewards are earth-shattering. I am just one person, and environmental issues are vast and complicated problems, but I am part of the solution, and you can be, too. I think my 10 year old self would approve.