My Shade of Green

In my search for a “green, environmentally friendly, sustainable, energy efficient, etc. etc.” lifestyle I find that I am constantly faced with choices of convenience vs. responsibility.  Under this larger heading there are time-saving choices vs. a few extra steps, a little more money vs. nothing I want in my drinking water,  winter greens (again) vs. really yummy looking asparagus from Southern California.  It is a constant bombardment of ethical dilemmas.  

I walked out to my mailbox the other day in order to mail invitations that I had lovingly created for my daughters birthday party.   I had bought recycled paper at a local store and no animals were knowingly harmed in the process of this creation.  As I opened the box, I was struck with the thought….”It is going to take too  much oil to deliver all of these invitations.  But if I don’t support the USPS, will I be putting people out of work?”   Sometimes trying to act responsibly is a pain in the neck. 

Everyday we are faced with choices.  Sometimes we choose  just for convenience while other times we choose more responsibly.  The trick I have found is trying to create a balance and prioritize.  If I drive my daughter to school today, I’ll also be able to go grocery shopping during the same outing and probably save a little gas.   If I hang the towels up to air dry and throw them in for a fluff at the end  my dryer won’t be working overtime.  I’ll spend a little more on Organic food and sleep better knowing my family isn’t eating chemicals and hormones  and that we aren’t helping to pollute rivers and streams.  I ended up sending the invitations.  The Grandparents loved them.   

I recently came across an article in Dwell Magazine entitled, “At Home in the Zone.”  http://www.dwell.com/articles/at-home-in-the-zone.html  This article has some great tips for helping to make choices that are more sustainable.   As time goes by and industry starts creating more Earth friendly products the choices are less about convenience vs. responsibly but “I use bleach in my laundry because my mother used bleach in her laundry” vs. ” This new washing machine is so efficient that I don’t need bleach or a dryer.”   Our choices are becoming more convenient and responsible.  So think about your choices and then ask yourself, “What shade of green I’m I going to be today?”