My first taste of blogging was as a writer for a green issues mommy blog. The arena was new and I had an opportunity to be part of team of mommy writers who were blogging about their green journeys. At first, I felt out of place because I wasn’t living a bright neon green life. You see, although I promote more green and natural living, I’ve never professed to be the greenest person in the world. The only idea I was really committed to was making some lifestyle changes that would promote greener, more natural, and more frugal living in our home and for my family. There were still many aspects in my life where I had thought about making changes, but there I was out in the open, writing about the life, and not living every single minute that way. Last year, I made a list of ten ways that I was still not quite so green and the likelihood of me changing wasn’t too probably anytime soon. This is how my list went:

1. I love long hot showers, but I wash my clothes in cold water.
2009 Still the same. I now have a clothes line and as soon as it stops raining, I’ll give it a try.
2. I drive an SUV, but I go to town/drive usually only two days a week because I schedule to save gas, time, and money. Also, the SUV is a perfect size for our large family and everything that comes with one.
2009 I still have the same vehicle, but drive even less.
3. I love buying a bright, shiny, new book to read, but I’ve reduced my magazine subscriptions from four to one and our library cards are used frequently every month.
2009 I stopped all magazine subscriptions completely.
4. I use probably more toilet paper than I should (Is this a women thing?), but I have tremendously reduced the amount of paper towels we use, which I buy recycled.
2009 I use less toilet paper, but have gone back to regular Bounty paper towels. I will be moving towards more cloth options.
5. I will wash a piece of clothing in a minute, but wash large loads and use natural and non-toxic cleaners.
2009 I’m still using the same non-toxic cleaners, but have done better with combining clothes in larger loads.
6. I still occasionally buy bottled water, but use well and filtered water when at home and will finally be buying reusable, BPA free containers next week. Don’t ask me why it took so long. Also, we recycle the bottles because I am determined to buy me a Cagoule hat.
2009 We are a Klean Kanteen loving family and fill up at home, with filtered water, every time we go somewhere.
7. I leave my computer on ALL DAY (please be kind), but don’t watch a lot of television, and do listen to a lot of radio.
2009 Still the same.
8. I still use conventional feminine products, but Nature Mom has made me curious enough to look into trying alternatives to disposables which I may actually do. I never knew of such until I read it there. See, I’m learning.
2009 I’m still using disposables.
9. I have a child who has Asthma, which requires Albuterol treatments, but have found natural alternatives resulting in, I believe, a healthier child. Having been in the trenches a little longer has provided opportunity to find out what works best for him. I was determined for my son to not go the route of “daily, doctor prescribed medication.“ Instead, treatments are required only a few times a year.
2009 River hasn’t used medication in more than two years. Natural alternatives all the way!!!
10. My husband enjoys using his John Deere riding lawn mower (and I love the look and smell of freshly cut grass), but on occasion, he uses his manual lawn mower to get a good workout. With the amount of grass, it’s definitely a work-out.
2009 I still love freshly cut grass and in this rainy part of the world, it has been necessary to John Deere more often.

As I continue my journey, which will be never ending and where I’ll always be learning, I’m happy with where I am at this point. I’ve done some backsliding, but have recovered and continue despite of myself. Going green is personal. There are so many others doing so much more than me and then, there are so many others doing far less than me; there are also others doing nothing at all. Regardless of anyone’s decision to do something or not, going green is not a contest where we have one winner and everyone else is a loser. It is also not about being better than the next mommy as we try to determine who is more green than the other.

Fortunately, there are several ways to be green and as far as shades go, pick anyone you would like. There are quite a few areas in my life where I need to improve choices I make, which would inadvertently make me more green, and also just make better money cents sense. On the other hand, there are some activities in my life that may never change like enjoying long hot showers or the fact that I leave my computer on ALL day. This is my journey and regardless of what anyone thinks, I’m traveling it my way.

If you’ve decided to travel the “green” journey (or not – and why?), how are you doing? What changes have you made? Is it a better way of living for you? How have you involved your children?