Did you know there are now 5 Rs?

Princess reminded me this morning that today is “Earth Day.”  Not quite sure whether or not she understands what it means – maybe she thinks it’s the birthday of the earth, I don’t know – but I am pleased that she is aware of the concept at age 4 because I know her conscientiousness will only increase.  I must admit that she didn’t hear about “Earth Day” from me and I’m quite ashamed of it because we do a horrible job of teaching her about being environmentally friendly and less wasteful.  As I consider recent world events (volcano, earthquakes, flooding), I know I must start to be more mindful of my behavior.  I promise that I want to do better and it’s going to take a conscious effort to change my family’s habits. 

Although I complained last year about the cost of going green, I have made some small changes around the house and intend to step it up.  I am happy to learn that there are no longer 3Rs of environmental consciousness, but 5Rs (did you know that?) - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Replenish and Restore. I intend to do all that I can to incorporate the 5Rs into my household.  I will make sure that all our light bulbs are energy-efficient, I will shut the tap off when washing dishes or brushing my teeth, I will turn off the lights when I’m not in a room, I will carry my re-usable bag to the grocery store, I will shop local, I will take mass transit as much as I can … and my list goes on.

What changes do you intend to make this year?