Thursday is trash pick up day at our house ('cause I knew you were dying to find out). I was thinking this morning and considering all the trash our household of 4 people and 5 pets generates. And here's my secret (shhhhh): I'm a closet environmentalist - ack!
Yes it's true. I could be a total "green freak" if I allowed myself (because I am obsessive) - no because I care. But I am NOT a total "green freak." Good for you (and all of us) if YOU are & thanks - truly. Maintaining my sanity (shut-up!) and marital bliss (I'd make him even crazier than I already do) requires a different approach to "green" in my life.
I carry my box in and out of Harry's (and other places too) and I buy organic as much as possible, heck we're even buying a Prius in a month or so (gosh how average is that?). I have been evaluating my reasons for all of this during the social climate of "green" being trendy and "in."
Well as you know I care NOTHING for being "in" or trendy so I asked myself "Self? Why or even ARE these things important to you?" I'll stop recounting the quoted conversation I had in my head - you can relax I'll just get to the point (in a minute or two).
Being "green" for me is almost a selfish choice (maybe it always is?) in that I carry boxes into Harry's because it's easier and I don't have to figure out where to store or toss all those plastic baggies. I buy organic because it tastes better and if I can cut out at least some of the chemicals, antibiotics, and hormones pumped into myself and my children - WooHoo I'm doing it. We're buying a Prius because it's cheaper on gas with Casey in Atlanta rush hour daily and let's face it (for gadget and techno freeks like us) it's really cool! I take a short shower (usually) so that I can have some quiet time to myself before the kids wake up. I turn out lights because they give me migraines (and I hear my father's voice in my head when they are left on, but I think that's another post).
I don't compost (though it might be fun), or garden, or reclaim rainwater (like it rained here this year?!?), or ride my bicycle to make my ginormous T.V. work (though my a** would be smaller if I did b/c I LOVE T.V.), or use biofuels (don't even get me started on why ethanol is EVIL), heck, I don't even recycle on a consistent basis (SHAME). I AM more aware and more cautious about what we put in our bodies and in our homes. I "go green" where it is reasonable for us at this point and always strive for more (without being my completely obsessive self) incrementally. I admire those who do more and those who go all-out; I understand those who don't and those who don't care. I'm somewhere in the middle - do what I can where I can as I can - and it's enough.
I do have a goal of reducing the amount of garbage we generate (again selfish, as we just plain have too much stuff) which means I have to remember GIGO, but I can work on that and I'm sure my garbage collector (they don't pay those guys enough) will be appreciative.
When I doubt myself I just remember the immortal words of great thinker Kermit the frog "It's not easy being green."
I'll keep you posted!
AmyDe
