It's June 21, we are just one day past the Summer Solstice - the longest day of the year - and that means that we still have 194 days left in 2008! I like to take a 'half-full glass' view of the world, rather than a 'half-empty glass' perspective. With that in mind, there is plenty of time to either revive those New Year Resolutions that are buried someplace on your desk or, better yet, to pump up the volume, and intensify efforts to make dreams, resolutions, and daily goals a reality in the next six months!
It's Friday, Tip Day for ways to 'Give The Boot To Our Carbon Footprints'. In 2008 my New Year Resolution 
is to 'show gratitude' for my blessings by 'giving back' and the environment is one of my recipients. I dedicate three columns each week to news, information and ideas about small, daily steps we can take to reduce our Carbon Footprints. Consider the huge, positive, long-range impact on the environment if each one of us performs 'habitual' actions - like driving fewer vehicle miles, using more energy efficient light bulbs, and turning off lights when we leave rooms. My goal, as an individual, is to urge others to follow my lead, and take a few small steps each and every day toward protecting the environment.
Personally, I have my summer 'Things To Do List' for the environment - and I'm happy to say I'm making steady progress one small step at a time:
- Order I Resolve To . . . Canvas Tote Bags to take to the grocery store (less plastic!). Update: I have seven brand new Tote Bags for my trips to the grocery store!
- Recycle Magazines - I'm happily working through my stacks and will donate to worthy organizations and groups. Update: I'm working to identify organizations, friends and 'others' who can use my magazines, and plan to start delivering them in July.
- Walk and Metro more, and drive less, when I am in Washington, D.C. Update: I'm actually driving very little, and walking quite a bit, due to my surgery; plan to keep that up in July and August both in Fredericksburg and
- Promote Keep America Beautiful in an effort to urge people NOT TO LITTER! Update: I've done one column and have a link to the KAB website on my blog, but need to brainstorm other ways to give KAB a hand; work in progress.
- Review my EarthLab Promises - a great website that provides great ideas for reducing your Carbon Footprint, and offers a way to track the promises/goals you make. Update: This is on-going, work in progress - I review my promises once each week.
- Do more research on recycling. Update: I begin a new round of research next week.
- Create ways to recycle at home even though I cannot get trash haulers to send 'recycle trucks' to my home in the country. Update: Need to find new ways of using less paper, plastic, etc - and continue research about ways to recycle.
- Research and write columns about the 'end' of Incandescent light bulb, which will be phased out in 2012 under a 2007 energy law passed by Congress. Done: Did my research and posted a column, June 6th.
- Redouble my efforts to conserve energy at home: lights, computers, appliances, etc. Update: This is a work in progress, on-going.
- Begin brainstorming and researching steps I can take in the Fall when I finish this list! Update: I begin this new effort next week, and will be posting new links, articles, and websites that have useful information about ways that we can help the environment!
If you want to fulfill a dream, keep a New Year Resolution, or achieve daily goals it helps to have a specific resolution, to do your homework, build a plan, write things down in a daily journal, create a timeline with deadlines for tasks, and do daily and weekly Check-Ins. If you want more ideas for ways to stay on track visit the I Resolve To . . . Toolkit:
Remember: I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year. It's your choice. Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps: Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good! Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey! Let's Go For It!
Need More Inspiration? Wear Your Resolution! Make Every Day New Year's Day. Make Every Day Count. Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link: http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto
Kim M. Simpson - June 20, 2008
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