Jennifer from Alai Vani tagged me for a meme. This is my very first meme. I don’t have a blog format that works with most of the ones going around out there, but Jennifer’s Five Things I Did to Celebrate Earth Day works for me! Except I’m going to change it up a little.

Aside from working extra hard on Allie’s Answers last week, I didn’t do anything particularly special for Earth Day. So I’m going to tell you five things I do (or don’t do) every day to honor the environment and learn how to better protect it.

1. I don’t drive much. I don’t have the most fuel efficient car in the world, but I don’t use it much. I plan out my errands so I can get a lot done in one trip. And this year I’m planning to bike as much as possible.
2. I don’t buy much. This one isn’t really all that hard for me. I hate shopping. I’ve been carrying the same purse for 10 years. It’s small, it’s plain, it’s black. It was never in style, but it will never be out of style either. My newest pair of shoes is about a year old, and was the first pair I’d bought in two years. My favorite shoes are the pair I’ve had since high school. I’ve learned that things don’t make me happy past the initial “wow, this is new” phase, so for the most part, I only buy what I need. I automatically try to think if there’s something else we already have that can be a substitute for buying something new, because I hate the mall and I have allergies which make me sensitive to off-gassing from new products. When I do buy something, I check out used options first.
3. I eat organic as much as I can afford to. I prioritize my organic purchases, and don’t eat too many processed foods. The added bonus is that fruits and veggies don’t come with a lot of packaging, and now I’m composting my food scraps.
4. I use eco-friendly personal care products and household cleaners. To the best of my knowledge, none of the products I use contain parabens, or pthalates, and are not petroleum derived products.
5. I research. Every day, I read about green products and environmental issues. What we think is green and what we think is safe changes constantly. My motto (which I think I got from Maya Angelou) is that you do what you know and when you know better, you do better, so I’m constantly trying to learn more and do better.

I think it’s important for everyone to do what they can and expand on going green at a rate that’s comfortable for them and fits with their lifestyle and values. If you’re a traveling salesman, you probably won’t be able to cut your driving down to 30-50 miles per week, but you can carry a reusable mug and water bottle with you, drive efficiently, and make simple green changes at home.

I equate it to dieting. If you go on a diet and tell yourself you can never again eat any of the foods you love, you’ll probably fail. If you make educated food decisions, work toward a lifestyle shift, and allow yourself the foods you love in moderation, you’re much more likely to have success that sticks. Same thing goes for being green. If you feel deprived, you’ll be miserable and you aren’t likely to stick with it. But just like eating healthy can help you lose your cravings for junk food, going green lends itself to taking even more green steps.

Make the changes that are easier for you first. See how good it feels and how painless going green can be, and then challenge yourself to reach just a little outside of your comfort range to do just a little bit more.

So there’s my first meme, and a bonus tangent on going green. I’m tagging Erikka, Michelle, Mickey, Maria, and Ashley Sue.

Thanks, Jennifer!