What Does Being Green Mean?

There are a LOT of variations of the term "green," I've come to find out.  It's popular to be green in today's society, but what's funny to me is that people who all claim to be "green" can think other people going "green" are not "going green" at all!  But, there are different variants of "green" and making little changes are all that matters, in my opinion.

You've heard me talk about how some companies love to use the word "natural" or "green" when there's really nothing natural or green about them.  Just because a company claims to be natural (or simple,) you really have to read the label.  When something is popular, companies take advantage of it and try to sell us stuff that isn't in line with the true meaning of green or natural.  I've been duped, too, it's okay.  We live and learn!

Back to the question – what does being green even mean?  Well, green can mean totally giving up fast food, processed foods, foods treated with pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, and GMOs, while recycling, planting a garden, giving up your car for a bike instead….the list goes on and on and on.  For me personally, going green is a mindset.  Before a purchase a product, I'm careful to inspect the label.  If it's a food item, I don't buy it if it contains high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, BHT, and I other ingredients.  We have a tiny garden, but we also buy produce from the grocery store.  We buy organic food, but we also buy non-organic food sometimes.  For us and our bank account right now, it's a healthy mix.  I really admire the green people who have their own garden, cows, goats, chickens, and more.  Right now, that's not for us, but who knows…maybe some day!

So to sum it up, going green is just a frame of mind.  It's a process.  It's about making little changes to do the best you can possibly do for your family within your means.  It's about tossing the chemicals and reading labels.  It's about looking for alternatives.  It's about not simply trusting big companies and doing your own research.  BUT…and I really stress this….it's about NOT turning up your nose to others' choices that may not be so green.  Who am I to judge what someone else feeds their family?  We haven't totally sworn off fast food and soda and some stuff that I don't approve on DOES sneak into our diets.  We're just doing the best that we can!

What does being green mean to YOU?