Earn Green By Going Green

Going green doesn't just benefit the environment, it can also benefit your pocketbook!!

Here are a few tips that will help put some green in your pocket while making a positive impact on the planet:

1.  BYOB Bags:  some retailers, such as CVS, will pay you to bring your own reusable bags.  Participating CVS stores will put $1.00 on a special CVS card for every four trips in which you BYOB!!  If your local store does not participate, ask them to consider implementing the program!

2.  Many states offer "bottle bills" for every plastic and glass bottle your recycle at specific locations.  Check with your city to see what programs they offer.

3.  Collect and save aluminum cans, then take them to a metal recycler.  They will buy the cans from you!

4.  Plant trees strategically around your house to reduce heating and cooling bills.

5.  Use online bill pay when possible.  Not only does this cut down on paper consumption, you will save on postage.  This may not sound like much but if you mail 5 bills a week at 49¢ per stamp - that is $2.45 per week, $9.80 per month and $117.60 per year!!

6.  Do you like magazines?  Trade magazines with friends.  This cuts down on paper consumption and saves you the cost of multiple subscriptions!

7.  Organize a clothing swap with family and friends.  Revamp you closet and save money!

8.  Switch the light bulbs in your house to CFL bulbs.  They use less energy, last longer, and are better for the environment!!

9.  Reuse what you can!  Before you buy new, be creative and see if you already own something that would get the job done!

10.  Sell items that you no longer need or want instead of just throwing them away!  EBay and 5miles are great sites.  Facebook also has a wide range of groups specifically for selling.  Give it a try!

When you can benefit this beautiful planet and put some green in your pocket... I consider that a Win-Win!!!

Answers to the Most Common Questions About Being Green

“Going green is a hassle.”

“Those bins take up too much room.”

“As an individual, can I really make a difference?”

“I don’t even know what that means.”

“Is there really such a big problem?” 

“How does going green help?”

I’ve heard all of these statements/question and many more concerning the idea of being green.  Many people do not understand the concept of going green and its implications or think it is just way to hard or inconvenient.  So, let’s take a look at each of these and try to make some sense of it!

Going green is a hassle!

            Yes, going green requires some effort and changes in habit but it does not have to be a daunting task or encompass a huge and burdensome change in lifestyle.  Small, simple changes can make a huge impact!  Anything you do that saves energy or resources is considered as being “green”.  So think about the things you do, you may already be on the right track!

Those bins are space hogs!

            The bins given out by some cities can be cumbersome but there are alternatives.  Use a small trash can or a covered basket.  Here is one of my favorite trick:  I reuse the large dog food bags as recycling containers, then when it is full – the whole bag goes to the recycling station.  You can store your bins in an out-of-the-way corner, a closet or garage.

Can one person really make a difference?

            Absolutely!  The best way to become aware of your personal impact is to track your efforts for one month.  For example, take note of how many recyclables you take to drop stations or watch your electric and water consumption and then compare your current bill to the previous month to see your savings.  The greatest changes start with one person.  Start programs to get your family or community involved and see what a change YOU can make!

I don’t even know what ‘going green’ means!

            Going green simply means to pursue knowledge and practices that can lead to more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles, which can help to protect the environment and sustain its natural resources for current and future generations. (Love this definition from thrall.com)

Is there really such a big problem and how does going green help?

            The answer to the first questions is a resounding yes!  We are using our natural resources at an alarming rate and once they are gone, they’re gone!  The good news is it still isn’t too late to help preserve these precious resources and become a more sustainable minded planet.  By using the “green” mantra, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, we can considerably slow the depletion of this beautiful planet.

Still not convinced?  Consider the following:

            At least 50 million acres of rainforest are lost every year!  That’s an area the size of England, Wales, and Scotland combined.  More than 50% of all living creatures on earth reside in tropical rainforest and with this continued destruction of habitat, these creatures are disappearing at a rate of approximately 100 species per day!

            Americans use about 385 million gallons of gasoline every day!

            Americans use 2.5 million plastic water bottles every hour – most of just thrown away.

            Every year, in the U.S., enough writing and office paper is thrown away to make a 12 foot wall from New York to California.

If every household in the United States replaced one regular, incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL), such as the awesome options by Cree, the pollution reduction would be equivalent to removing one million cars from the road.  OR

            If ¼ of all United States households replaced 1 incandescent with a CFL it would save as much carbon dioxide as planting 200,000 acres of forest.

            63 million newspapers are printed in the United States every day.  Of these, 44 million or approximately 69% are thrown away.  Recycling just the Sunday papers would save more than half a million trees every week!

            20 recycled aluminum cans can be made with the energy it takes to manufacture a single brand new can.

            The recycling of one ton of paper saves approximately:  2 barrels of oil, 4100 kw of energy, 7,000 gallons of water and 17 trees!

As you can see, our consumption is staggering but with just a few changes in mindset and minimal effort we can make huge changes!  

Are you ready to get started?  Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1.       Start small – don’t try to do too much at the onset because you risk being overwhelmed.

      2.      Don’t let others discourage you.  You will find people who do not support your efforts.  Stay strong and keep up the good work.

      3.      Dedication goes a long way!  Stick to it even on the days (and there will be those days) when you are totally lax and feel like you have blown it.  Get back on track and keep going.

     4.      Spread the word and get others involved!

Green is the new black!!

Have a great day!!

As always I welcome your comments and tips!

Journaling

I know this isn't the normal content that I post on this blog but I thought this was worth sharing!  Great article by Nancy A.

4 Powerful Reasons Journal Writing Is Good for the Soul

         4 Powerful Reasons Journal Writing is Good for the Soul 

I’ve used journal writing for self-care for more than fifty years. During each stage of life, journal writing has helped me identify and accept troubling emotions and thoughts and gradually convert them into positive ones. I found that by spilling my anger, hurt, sadness, worry, amazement, shock, grief, or confusion out on to the page, my attachment or tendency to “rethink” a particular issue lessened and I felt relieved.

In the past, writing in a journal has enabled me to look at the stories I tell myself to determine if I’m interpreting things realistically or letting my emotions take off on a roller coaster ride. As I hold pen in hand and scribble away, I feel the synergy of mind, soul/spirit, and body and this grounds me in the moment. 

In situations that involve other people, my journal acts like an intermediary, a designated place to take a “time out” to vent anger, hurt feelings, and fear. This step allows me to cool down hot emotions. If I later think it's necessary to communicate to others about my feelings, I'm able to do it in a kind, direct, and authentic way. I’ve come to believe soul’s plan is to help me encounter and love myself wholeheartedly. My soul writing helps me grow-up my attitudes and behaviors in relationships with myself, my family, friends, work relationships, and even with people I casually relate to from time to time.

Quiet time spent like this has helped me connect with higher purpose, my soul’s purpose. Soul guides me back to my core, a place of gentle trust and love. 

See a definition of soul here from Merriam-Webster.com

Soul is a noun \ˈsōl\

1: the spiritual part of a person that is believed to give life to the body and in many religions is believed to live forever

2: a person's deeply felt moral and emotional nature

3: the ability of a person to feel kindness and sympathy for others, to appreciate beauty and art, etc.

My belief about soul has evolved over the years, yet one constant is that journal writing has been a direct pathway between my mind, body, and spirit. I don't always know what will be revealed through writing, yet this reflective time taps into the “self-empowerment potential” and blessings of the soul's expression.

One of my life goals is to become the “best me” that I can be. If that is like anything you care about, read on. Here are 4 reasons soul journaling can help you.

1. Our soul wants the very best for us and others. It awakens our senses and helps us find ways to be more compassionate, empathetic, and generous.  Soul work through journal writing can improve our relationships with friends, family, and ourselves. It can also help us leave or detach from relationships that are unhealthy for us.

2. Soul writing allows us to take a break from the hectic pace of keeping up with modern technology and the material world. Even if you have to get up a few minutes earlier than everyone else in your home, you deserve to reserve space where there is no noise pollution or distractions. If you're anything like I am, it's important to remember not to listen to thoughts that tell you "you should do something else" or "be somewhere else." Take time to nurture yourself in this way. Journaling allows us to check in with ourselves. Often, it helps us shift gears enough that we can find peace and serenity in the process. Then, we can face the world refreshed and renewed.

3. Whenever we're in-touch with negative thoughts, judgments, shame, and even resentments that we harbor about ourselves and others, a journal is a good place to leave them. When I look at what I’m writing, I can catch those times when I’m blaming others for something I need to accept responsibility for. When I fess up and laugh at what I’m doing, my soul unburdens me of guilt, self-judgment, and I readily accept responsibility for myself. I’ve also learned that just because I feel momentary panic about an event in the future or fear confronting another person, I don’t have to act or change the situation immediately. My soul journal is there to help me see the light.

4. Journaling for the soul can unblock stale energy. It allows us to be a witness to things we're stewing over, but can’t control. Whenever I feel I'm not right with myself, journal writing can be used as a form of meditation. Awareness is often all that I need to let go of obsession about other people, places, and things. Observing my mind like this, helps me remember to mind my own business and leave the rest. What about you? Have you tried journal writing as a self-help tool?

Here’s what great writers, thinkers, philosophers and wise sages say about the Soul. It's from Oprah on Super Soul Sunday.

 Video Super Soul Sunday

A definition of Soul that resonates most with me is Marianne Williamson’s belief about the soul. “The soul is the truth of who we are: the light, the love, the truth of us.”

Journal writing can help you too. It’s a way to check in with your feelings, thoughts, and perceptions. It’s a safe place to vent your anger, sadness, joy, secret longings, as well as record successes and triumphs.

Journal writing has helped me access the innate power I have inside myself to heal emotional suffering. I’ve found that writing about my unresolved hurts, fear, and pain experienced in my mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional body, I'm able to process the stress factor in them. This relaxes me and usually lessens physical symptoms like headache, backache, stomach ache and tension.

When I lack faith, feel overwhelmed, or realize I'm bent out of shape,journal writing often calms me down. Those are the times I address my journal entry to my higher power. Being this specific is just what I need to get closer to my soul and let the rest go.

My journal doesn’t try to fix me, change me, or otherwise force me to snap out of whatever I’m feeling, as some people try to do. My journal loves me unconditionally. It's a best friend who listens, honors, and comforts me by letting me express my innermost despair to my greatest joyuninterrupted. 

If you're looking for a guided journal, please check out Colors of Joy: A Woman's Guide for Self-Discovery, Balance, and Bliss. It features 12 weeks' worth of self-development activities and color-coded exercises in an interactive journal format. 

Find it on My Website

Find it @ Amazon Books

Do you journal? Has it helped you sort things out? Do you feel a soul connection when you journal? How does that make you feel? Please let me know. I appreciate your input. Have a great day!

The quotation for today is: 

“Writing is the act of discovery.” 

― Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within

Turning Over A New Leaf

Hi everyone!  It's been a while since I've last posted so just wanted to give everyone a short update.

I am a grandmother!!!  My first granddaughter was born in May 2014.  She is beautiful and perfect!  I'm not proud at all.... Can't ya tell?  😀

In February of this year I was laid off.  The attorney I worked for retired.  I decided at that time to return to school and finish my degree.  I will graduate in December with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Business.

In April I got engaged to the love of my life.  We are getting married in June, 2016.  In addition to marrying a great man, I am also gaining two very special boys as part of my family.

That's the update in a nutshell.  Time is very limited right now with school but I will be posting again soon.

Thank you all for the love and support!  It means the world to me.