Resolution Revolution

We are changing ourselves to change the environment. My husband and I are becoming "greener" by really focussing on our health. Arnot's book "The Biology of Success" is our guide for claiming the type of life we have until now only hungered for.

While other might be farther along in the process than we are, the transition is one that is not feeble, fragile or fad-ridden. We have begun to buy organic and/or locally grown food. Our diet has shifted from relying on meat into a diet of tempe, tofu, and fish. We have begun to inventory the food we have on hand once a week so that we can utilize what we have purchased. No longer do we buy mass farm produced food, store it for weeks in the fridge and then throw it away.

The city that we live in has lead us step by step into recycling. At first it was only cardboard, now all paper, all hard plastic and all glass must be recycled. We are in the habit of sorting and recyling. In addition, we have become more mindful of the number of trips we take in the car. All of the major shopping, recycling and "road runner" activities are carried out in the most efficient way. We save gas, time and wear and tear on the vehicles.

We have replaced ALL of our light bulbs for energy efficient bulbs. We replaced our roof, our windows and our insulation in our home. Our clothes washing machine is an energy efficient, water use efficent new model and we selected a new dishwasher that is more energy efficient because of the options it presents for cleaning.

Last weekend we prepared our bicycles for use throughout the spring and summer seasons, in order to keep one less vehicle on the road.

And strangely enough, we have discovered we use less gas now that we rent seven day videos and stay home for our entertainment. And who wouldn't want to stay home in our new draft resistant environment.

What has driven all of these changes is ultimately a self-ish or self-nourishing focus on a better life for this particular family. We know that when we are healthier, our neighbourhood is healthier and so is our planet. The grasping for possessions, the fix on adrenalized moving from place to place to instill a sense of "getting somewhere" occurs when people are off balance, stressed and reaching for something that was at home all the time. We are all trying to find comfort. It is in ourselves. Instead of resolution, I believe the "revolution" is to step by step change ourselves by building in good habits.