Me and Green

I get asked about this a lot, mainly by people who know that I present somewhat of a dichotomy with this site and blog. Why is this stuff so important to you? Why are you into natural living? What does Green mean to you?

See, I love the environment and everything. I spend a lot of time in it (we’re big hikers and campers not to mention just general outdoors people). Most of the things I do benefit it. I spend a lot of time consciously doing things to improve it.

But I’m not an environmentalist. By any stretch of the imagination. I’m a political conservative. I think Greenpeace is a bunch of terrorists. I shop at Walmart and I’m not ashamed of it. I don’t typically dress like a hippie and I wouldn’t live in a commune even if there was good money in it. I’m pro-business, and I don’t think Corporate America is out to screw the little guy OR the environment. In light of this, you can see how my striving to live green might seem a little strange.

But, see, I do not think a person has to be an “environmentalist” or out to save the planet from SUVs in order for a more natural lifestyle to make sense.

To me, it’s just common sense. It doesn’t take a lot of thinking to figure out that exposing ourselves to toxins, heavy metals, and things like endocrine disruptors probably is not a good thing. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that continuing to pollute our planet with these things really is not doing us any favors as a species, either.

Then there’s the financial aspects. It’s easy to drop a lot of dough on “green” products. But here’s the secret the media doesn’t advertise much – it’s easy to save a LOT of money by being green, as well. You don’t need to buy the fancy expensive Green window cleaner – use vinegar. You don’t need to spend your money on Aubrey Organics shampoo that’s made who knows where and shipped here – use baking soda. Using cloth menstrual pads cuts way back on that monthly expenditure that most women have – making your own from found materials makes it even cheaper.

And there’s also something to be said for getting back to the basics. It’s appealing on a sub-conscious level. I can’t explain why, but I am drawn to more natural, more simple things.

My personal goals are to be healthier, save money, and live a simpler lifestyle. Being green and more eco-friendly is just a nice side effect for me.

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