Bits & pieces for Dec.
Random good news, heads-up thoughts, ideas and other stuff I want to share that doesn’t fit elsewhere. Enjoy!
1. Sick and tired of bad news? Subscribe to the Good News Network. When I interviewed Erma Bombeck for the biography I wrote about her, one of the many things we discovered we had in common is that neither of us read the newspaper first thing in the morning or just before bed. Starting off the day on a positive note and ending it the same as a source of great strength to me.
2. Looking for inspiration this holiday season? I highly recommend the book, An Invisible Thread. The story will make your heart soar and renew your belief in the idea that one person can make a difference not only in the life of an individual but to everyone that person touches. (I read it on my iPad, and wish every publisher would switch to 100% PCW paper for printing.)
3. Before I leave the theme of optimism, read this piece in the NY Times about non-profit organizations that truly are making a difference. Before I donate, I always check with Charity Navigator to see how organizations spend their money and stack up against others, but this article goes deeper. It’s great to see.
4. I like the idea of sharing (loaning?) with friends via Facebook. That’s the idea of www.EcoSharing.net. Why buy when you can share?
5. “Buy one, give one,” may not be a green idea (unless of course you’re buying a sustainably sourced product), but the concept is terrific. Isn’t it great when we are not only shopping with a conscience, but when our dollars go farther in helping someone else?
6. Last spring I got an iPhone. It’s one of those things I never knew I needed until I owned it. I’ve got dozens of apps that help save me time and money, find farmer’s markets and restaurants serving local fare, help me make decisions about what to buy, help keep me on the green (and healthy) path, and entertain me. I do feel guilty since Apple is not a green company (kind of ironic given its name), but continue to press them to become more so.
7. The media continue to proclaim “green fatigue,” and yet companies continue to move toward sustainability. Where is the disconnect? I think greenwashing and the complexities of the topic scare people off, not to mention the fact that for some unfathomable reason, many still believe that living green is expensive. On a personal level, everyone in my family, even the most skeptical among them (you know who you are), are much more aware of making more sustainable choices, acting more responsibly in this area and it seems that every day I meet more people who are. (That could be me, but I hope not.)
Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, and founders of Green Halloween®.
