Resolve to live simply so others can simply live

As the year winds down and a new year starts, I reflect on the past year and memories of good times as well as bad times. Hopefully we all learn from past experiences and make resolutions to try and change things we aren’t so happy about, be it our weight, attitudes or something else.

Often my resolutions include tweaking my lifestyle to be a bit closer to nature and a bit greener. The truth is some of the very practices I have adopted used to be foreign to me. I think of my parents and grandparents as being the unintentional environmentalists. They were green before green was “in.” Many of their everyday practices, like repairing shoes, were done simply because of financial reasons.

In those days nothing was ever wasted including food. My great aunt Zanna could find three totally unrelated items in the refrigerator and produce a gourmet meal from them.

Today American citizens waste tons of food. I am just as guilty as the next person. I tend to buy more than I need because I have to drive so far to get to a grocery store. When I clean my refrigerator, I am reminded that I need to cut back and use what I have.

Restaurants and grocery stores are very guilty of this. They throw away dumpsters full of perfectly good food on a weekly basis because it is outdated or isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as we think it should be.

Resolution one: Don’t waste food.

Today eating out has become an almost everyday occurrence for some families. I do not like to eat out. It’s expensive, it generates lots of paper and plastic wastes, it is hard to find vegetarian selections, and it wastes time.

Cooking your own food is not only economical, it’s healthier. You can buy organic items that have little to no chemical preservatives in them. You can have your leftovers for lunch. You can enlist the help of family members and teach your children how to cook. It is just a better option than heading to a fast food chain.

Resolution two: Eat in more often.

I have written about the environmental impact of clothing. Fashion may be a very important part of our lifestyles, but it also can be extremely detrimental. From toxic dyes, to genetically modified cotton crops dripping in Roundup (glyphosate), to the child labor used to produce those clothing articles, fashion is not eco-friendly.

Sewing your own clothes is one option, or you can purchase sturdy items that may initially cost more but will last a long time. Patagonia, one of my favorite companies, will even repair their items for you. Shopping at Goodwill or a second-hand store also is another option.

Resolution three: Make greener clothing choices.

Carpooling is another way to step lightly on the earth. It is not always an option, but if you can carpool or take mass transit, you will cut back on carbon dioxide emissions. One of my former classmates lives in California. He has never owned a car. He points out the savings, not only in gas and car purchases, but also car insurance.

Unfortunately many of our large cities have lost much of their mass transit, like buses and trains, which leaves us no choice but to use a car. Recently some city officials in larger towns like Los Angeles are reviving their public transportation systems.

Resolution four: Carpool when possible or use mass transit.

A few years ago my husband and I stopped our satellite television provider. It was such a freeing experience. While I miss some channels like Discovery and Free Speech TV, I find that life without endless channels goes on. This allows more time to do other things like exercising, cooking or outdoor activities.

We do have a TV antenna that can pull in many local stations as well as PBS. When you stop to count the ridiculous amounts of commercials you view while watching TV, you realize how many minutes of your life were dominated by advertising and the push to consume and buy useless things.

Resolution five: Ditch the satellite and cut back on TV.

Adopting a more environmentally friendly lifestyle doesn’t happen overnight. It is a journey and is constantly changing. As I discover new ideas or run across new scientific studies, I try and slowly incorporate them into my life and share them with my friends.

I am far from being a totally “eco” person, but I am moving toward that goal. One of the side benefits from being ecologically conscience is that most of the time it saves you money, and it almost always is a healthier choice for you and the other species that share the planet.

One quote that has become very appropriate during these sometimes turbulent times is Gandhi’s quote: “Live simply so that others may simply live.” I hope everyone has a great holiday season and is able to make a resolution to step a little lighter on planet Earth.