Marc A. Reynolds - Garden State Green
I can remember it clearly. I was in a hospital visiting a friend who just had a baby. I was in the lounge area of the hospital chatting with a mutual friend. It was 2007 and he said to me... "this coming year the huge buzz word is going to be green". He's a writer for a major magazine, he's up on current events and I listened to what he said and then watched the word "green" sprout up online, in magazines and on television.
I've been paying attention to being "green" before the word existed, back in the early '90s. I will admit that my level of commitment to the planet did wane slightly over time, but grew even stronger about 6 months before that conversation in 2007. It was after meeting a new friend at work. He and I were on the same page with environmental issues which turned into almost a contest of who could be greener. It was a very positive friendship. More accurately, I would say we inspired each other to push our environmental responsibility to the next level.
There are various reasons why people have been or have recently begun becoming better care takers of the planet. Some people begin to reduce their purchases to save money. I have begun reducing my purchases to reduce waste. When a friend and neighbor questioned my commitment to being green, I sold my small SUV and bought a Prius within 2 weeks. I didn't buy a Prius to save money, I bought a Prius so that I could sleep better at night and not be riddled with guilt. I didn't start buying organic food 8 years ago solely because it's better for my family. I buy more then the "Dirty Dozen" organic foods because I also care how the planet is poisoned by conventional farming. No matter how much you think you are doing to be green, you can always do more.
You have to think of being green like some people think of being religious. Some people will be good all the time for fear of doing the wrong thing. They are being "watched" by a higher power. Environmentalists don't have anywhere to go on Sundays to be forgiven our sins against the planet. We don't live our lives as "green" people when it's convenient or when someone else can see. It's about being fully committed as much as possible, all the time. Trust me, it's not easy knowing and thinking fully about what I'm consuming, where it came from and who sews the clothes that I wear.
Everything helps. People who do a little and people who do a lot. I just want you to ask yourself, are you really doing as much as you can or are you doing what comes easy? Be green when no one is looking and the whole planet will benefit.
