On Being Mindful....

I'm not very good at making New Year's resolutions.  Maybe because it seems like just another to-do list.  Maybe because I don't like to commit.  Who knows?  So instead of making a big long list of things I vow to accomplish, I would rather reflect on ways to improve my green and healthy habits during the next year.  For me, it's really about being more mindful.

Wikipedia defines mindfulness as the practice whereby a person is intentionally aware of his or her thoughts and actions in the present moment, non-judgmentally.  I think it's important not to judge.  We've all got plenty of pressure in our lives - kids, work, money....who needs to tack on more guilt?  When it comes to the green movement, I enjoy making changes that are better for the world and for the health of my family, but I don't beat myself up every time I buy non-organic food shipped from South America, or buy cheap clothes at Target.  I can't afford to do it all, but I want to feel good about the things I do.

That said, here are a few things I would like to be more mindful of in the coming year:

• where my food comes from and how much energy is used to get it to me.
• the quality of the products I buy - are they durable and meant to last or are they the cheap throw-away-after-a-few-uses variety?
• the people making the products I buy - are their work conditions something that I can feel good about?
• the energy I consume - are there ways to use less energy by making small changes? (i.e. power-strips, lower heat temp, CFL's, etc..) Can I walk instead of drive?
• the toxins going into our bodies - how to keep potentially dangerous chemicals to a minimum in our lives.
• what happens to the stuff I buy after I'm done using it - are there better ways to reuse and recycle?
• do I really need it?
• am I enjoying it?

I am looking forward to the New Year....a time to start anew and look at life with a fresh perspective!

Comments

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after reading this, it made me think of my own mindfulness & impact on the environment, so i wanted to mention to all these readers one change that my husband and i recently made to our lives...we were introduced to GETMicrosolutions's lawn & yard care products, which have been so great. these products not only keep our yard looking wonderful, but they are also safe for our kids, our pets, & the world we live in...i know that is a small change, but it would be great if we all made small changes like this in our lives to make our world that much better!