New Year's Resolutions for those with a shorter attention span

The Daily Green has served a nice slide show for the New Year that gives you some simple ways to change your habits and live just a little greener in 2009. For those of you with more focus and less of a hangover, checkout this lighthearted article my wife found last night and mentioned in her previous post. HAPPY NEW "GREEN" YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS! (REMEMBER IT'S A PROCESS) -Glen

THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR FROM A GUEST BLOGGER (MY WIFE !!)

A few days back, Glen took a trip to the library with our 4-year-old to pick out some new books. It resulted in an exciting pile of Picture Books, a few Chapter Books to read together, some Music CD's and a few DVDs. Needless to say, our daughter was thrilled, as we hadn't been to the library for new materials in a while.

Well, Glen stumbled onto the Dr. Seuss section when they were browsing and took it upon himself to suggest The Lorax. Last night, just on the heels of New Year's Eve, our daughter chose Seuss' The Lorax as her bedtime story. She was full of questions and offered many opinions. She scowled with displeasure as I read aloud how the Once-ler chopped down his first Truffula Tree with one chop. She was further dismayed as the Once-ler said to the Lorax, "Look, there's no cause for alarm. I chopped just one tree. I am doing no harm." I was proud at our daughter's reaction, in knowing that we'd done something right. And as I continued to read, she became increasingly curious, asking more questions - and she saw how that one tree being chopped down, which the Once-ler saw as harmless, had consequences. Later on I was thinking, wouldn't it be great if one day the story of The Lorax is as well known as the story of The Grinch?

On this New Year's Eve, many of you are busy making new resolutions. Are you planning to lose some weight? stop smoking? go to the gym more? eat healthier? While those are all fine goals to strive for as we go about "renewing" ourselves in the new year, perhaps you might also consider resolving to do something positive for the world we are leaving our children. The things we do every day, big or small, can make such a huge difference. Here's a few simple resolutions that can help you return your thanks to our mother earth: Start a compost pile, Hang a load of laundry to dry, Walk to the corner store, Start bringing your cloth grocery bags with you, Stop using paper plates, Replace your light bulbs, Try public transportation, and last but certainly not least....Set a good example every day for your children - you can start by going to the library and reading The Lorax to them - make them understand the impact that we all have on our earth.

Or if you need some help coming up with some worthwhile resolutions, you might get inspired from this amusing but serious list of eco-resolutions from thedailygreen.com.

Also, enjoy this clip from The Animated Story of Seuss' The Lorax (What a brilliant man...) and I'd like to just close by remembering what Mahatma Gandhi said: He said, "You must be the change you want to see in the world." Wise words that we should all reflect on.....

Happy New Year!

Green Building and Design

Here is a couple that realized their green business ideas in a new business. They use the LEED Standards to help individuals and businesses build more efficient and sustainable living and work spaces. What kind of green business will you start during the new year?