24 Apr
How did you spend Earth Day? I was hanging out at McDonald’s, sipping iced tea out of a gigantic plastic cup. This is how far I’ve fallen. It’s been a downhill slide since my first admission that, for me, the thrill of green living had gone.

Nothing but the finest organic foods touched her lips
Sometimes I like to imagine I’m famous. Every time I do something environmentally reckless, I wear a wig and sunglasses so the paparazzi can’t identify me—the co-founder of Green Baby Guide—purchasing Mexican tomatoes or going into Starbucks (not even a local roaster! It gets worse by the second!) without a reusable coffee cup.
This is a far cry from where I expected to be six years ago, full of lofty ideals. My daughter didn’t have one grain of sugar or a morsel of non-organic food until she was two (recommended by . . . some expert, probably. It’s all such a blur now). Now she survives on Cheez-its and sheer will.
So what now? Earth Day used to be a time of hope for our planet. Joy and I would rattle off lists of Earth Day resolutions and our readers would inspire us with their plans. This year, my only resolution is to rediscover my excitement for green living! How do I do it? Help me out!
4 Responses for "Earth Day, McDonald’s, and Bitter Regrets"
I spent much of my Earth Day driving when it would have been far quicker and less hassle to take public transportation where I was going (and then I wouldn’t have gotten lost!). I felt pretty bad about that (even if I do drive a hybrid). I also bought my son a completely unnecessary plastic toy, though at least it was at a small local shop.
I suggest looking at it this way… At least the McDonald’s cup is recyclable, and on balance over the last 6 years you’ve probably made green decisions and actions more often than caving in to fast food and Cheez-its.
Maybe you could find some group activity in your area, like a local environmental clean-up day (I know, most of those were probably last weekend), to participate in? I find in general that being around other people who are green inspires me to keep doing what I’m doing. Reading like-minded blogs (like yours!) helps but that only goes so far.
Good luck, and thanks for your inspiration over the years!
I am glad I am not the only one doing scandalous activities on Earth Day! And you’re right; I’m sure I’ve done many good things to outweigh the occasional Cheez-it. (In all seriousness, I believe that was the first time my daughter had ever been to McDonald’s. She had a sundae.) And I did pick up some trash along a busy street pre-Earth Day, too! So maybe I’m not a total failure. . . .
This is a great topic. I too have lost the greener than green feeling. I just had a baby and we are using cloth diapers again and yada yada but I need a boost to remember why I paid so must more for special soaps and lotions and all the “good” stuff.
If you receive any great tips please post them. Thanks.
I hope to reclaim that “greener than green feeling.” I don’t have any great tips yet, but if I come up with any, I will let you know! It is kind of sad. . . . I went from genuine excitement about green living to a kind of dull apathy. It’s not that I’ve stopped being green or doing green things–but that excitement definitely isn’t there any more. (I’m talking about green living like a boring ex-boyfriend! Ha!)
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