Positive Thoughts

Rachel: Erin ... as I sit here by myself (although, I know Carrie had planned on coming) during what was suppose to be our MN G3 meeting I know that even though I am physcially alone - all of the "girls" are doing what they can to be green today. Hopefully that means not turning on the air conditioning - even though the temps topped out at 93 today!!! HOT!!!

Here is what I was going to add to our meeting tonight ....

Meditation - this has been hard for me, but I am committed to trying to tack onto my 5 minutes per day. I also have decided that I am going to try Bikram Yoga. It has been calling to me - coming up in many different conversations - and there is a studio 4 blocks from my house with a great special this month. So - I am saying it out loud and going to go next week.

I received some AWESOME green birthday presents -- GC to buy plants, a drying rack and a tumbler compost bin. It is so much fun to use all of them!!!! :) I do want to buy a clothes line - so looking into a retractable one - if anyone has ideas, please let me know!!

Finally - SUNSCREEN! Does anyone have any good suggestions? I was completely overwhlemed with the first chapter of the book (meaning, we probably need to continue to revisist the products we are using) and didn't pay attention to the sunscreen part. I want something that doesn't look all white ... but covers and works!

Ok - this was a long post, but I wanted to share my thoughts. I truly am hoping that everyone is moving forward on their journey - and I am sending out all of the green energy I can muster today!! :)

Erin: Rachel, I am always surprised to hear about how hard meditation is for people, not because I think it is easy - but for some reason I have this image that it should be easy. Our lives are so busy that it is incredibly hard to quiet your mind.

Anyway, we had a small group this month as well, but had a good discussion about moving forward and that we probably need to revisit the "body products" section as well. BTW I like Burts Bees sunblock, but it does not rub in or stay on like coppertone.

This next section on shopping gets harder for me because of the story of stuff. too much to think about sometimes, but I do think that there is a lot of good products out there that also benefit the world in a positive way; providing jobs, quality of life, raising awareness. So I am digging into this chapter in a new way.

Ok - actually we are off to the store now to get some more cloth diapers for Dara.

body and soul - spring cleaning

Erin: Rachel, it is now just a few short days into the month of May and while we (as a group) have been making some changes and "spring cleaning" our beauty products it is also time to do some spring cleaning with work-outs and mind-fulnesss.

Here are 2 quick thoughts and experiences I had this weekend.

1 - New work-out plans are always difficult for me to get my mind around. Since having a baby it has been extremely hard to do any kind of work-out or meditation or even writing with regularity. When that happens my mind gets mushy. I think that the g3club really pushes me to at least try some new things. I am realizing that ironman competitions may be a thing of the past - but mindfulness, meditation and basic active lifestyle help me to be more appreciative of the earth and people around me.

2 - While working at our Fair Trade Fair, last Saturday, I saw a great journal that I really thought I "needed". After all it was tree-free (made out of Elephant dung). I am taking a writing class next month and it is always nice to start fresh - but I have a number of cool notebooks that sit empty at my house. Needless to say I refrained from buying yet another notebook - although I continue to think about this one I saw. Probably if it comes by my line of site again I will get it after all.

Being green sometimes saves green, but sometimes we can still have fun and nice things.

Gardening, Meditation and Paper Towels

RACHEL: Erin - What a beautiful weekend we had in MN. I know compared to the land of sunshine not such a big deal - but it really was a great spring weekend for the rest of us! :) I was able to get out in the yard and doing spring cleaning (Thanks Mom and Mike!) - and now I am itching to start planting my vegetable garden. I am struggling with green lawn care and weed control. I did skip ahead to that chapter and one of her thoughts that hit home is that putting chemicals on my lawn is like subjecting my neighbors to second-hand smoke. Now - I don't want to subject myself to all those chemicals - but it reminded me that it is not just about me!!!

I have been struggling a little bit with the meditation piece of my goals for the month. Moving my body is easy - but slowing down and centering myself has been a challenge. I am not giving up - just saying that it has been a challenge. Completely separate from that - I have decided to give up paper towels. Eeeeekkk .... especially since I HATE doing laundry! This will be a challenge for me - but one small step that I can make for myself and for everyone else!

Would love to hear how everyone else is doing this month!

Erin: Rachel - of course it is not Always 70 and sunny here, but we are spoiled. I mostly now pray for rain. The problem is - like anywhere, when it rains everything is washed down the gutters and into the ocean. I watched the other day at the gardener put chemicals on our lawn. I have commented to our landlord - but green grass seems to be the priority. Sadly, Dara will not be able to play on our lawn - EVER.

As for centering and work-outs I think that the centering part is hard for all of us in western society. Even for me - when it is part of my life's work. Let's see if we can add some sites that might help. That is really what I will be working on this month.

Also check out the link to "how green is your work out" on the side.