Earth Day Is Not Just for Hippies

Dirt-worn fields full of patchouli-stinkin kids kicking bean bags in the air.

Ratty dreads on white people, bad songs that last way too long.

Self-righteous lip service from SUV-driving new-bohemian-wannabes (bobos?).

Earth Day is a good thing. Unfortunately, this is what most people think of when they think of Earth Day. Instead of thinking of it as some sort of lifestyle-confirming all-day jam-band festival, think of Earth Day as a chance to examine your life and your daily actions and routines and consider in a fresh light how your moving through this life impacts your planet. And before you get all new-agey on me: Your planet is your house, your yard, your neighborhood, the streets you travel to get to work and back, the trails you run or ride or walk, the landfill where all your trash goes--all the physical spaces your living impacts.

Of course, everyone impacts everything. We're all connected to everyone and everything else. And that's the truth. But as this concept is so big that it is meaningless to many people, the best approach is to look closely at your own life and change what you can. Recycle that cardboard instead of smashing it in the trash bin. Ride your bike to the store instead of driving. Take walks in your neighborhood instead of driving to the greenbelt. Shop locally instead of driving to big box land. Water your lawn deeply once a week instead of 3 or 4 times a week. Mow that lawn early or late instead of in the heat of the day. Buy food and other products with less packaging. Buy organic. And on and on.

It's the little changes, piled on top of each other, that can make a true difference, because these are the things that can become a permanent part of your life.

You don't have to be a hippie to be responsible for your world. Just be smart.