I truly believe that before you can take care of something as big as the Earth, you need to take care of yourself; and I'm talking about all of the normal stuff: eating right and exercising, finding enjoyable things to keep your mind positive, etc.
But, even the individualistic way of thinking can be green.
Exercise: Stop going to the gym! Start going outside! If you have a dog, take him or her for a walk (and if you live on a busy road, drive to a nearby dog-friendly park). If you are animal-free, JUST WALK. I am a fan of running, but that's not everyone's cup of tea. Walking accomplishes essentially the same physiological effects as a jog, with little impact on joints. Plus, if you are walking, you can bring along a piece of bamboo (or another kind of stick) and a PAPER bag (no plastic, too much oil involved there). Pick up any garbage you see along the way with your stick. By going out your front door and using what's right in front of your face, you are helping your body as well as the environment - no fossil fuel used, only bio-energy!
Food: Keep it simple. Keep it local. Almost everywhere has a co-op or farmers' market within just a few miles. The way I see it, even if you have to drive 10 or even 20 miles to get there, that's better than going to the grocery store 3 miles away that has shipped food from 500 miles away. Plus, farmers' markets don't have brownies, potato chips fried in lard, and an overabundance of sugary snacks. Farmers can't really grow Trix cereal, but they sure can grow corn, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, watermelons, peaches, plums, beans, onions, peppers, and I so could keep going. Name one of those things on that list that ISN'T good for you!
If you really can't get to a local market, stay in season. When you buy veggies and fruit that are not in season (or are not from around here, ummm star fruit?!?!), you can guarantee they came from some far away land. If there's snow on the ground, stick with cooler weather foods: lettuce, potatoes, onions. It can get boring, but try canning the good stuff when it is in season (see below). Of course, when it's warmer, the menu is much more extensive.
Even better: Grow your own garden. We grow our own day-to-day food in our garden. Tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, squash, zucchini, eggplant, corn, onions, beans, and peas. My father-in-law also grows a large garden with much of the same - he'll can his extra for both of us over the winter. We're still working on last years canned tomatoes. We're planning to pickle peppers, can beans, can cabbage, and can tomatoes this year. (And if you're lucky enough to have an avid hunter in the house, canning and freezing venison is also a money saver, jiggly butt reducer, and Earth-friendly option). And just like a farmers' market or co-op, you can't grow doughnuts in your garden, so your heart (and butt) will thank you.
My only request: Should you decide to grow a garden, please consider all options BEFORE using any pesticides. Not only could you hurt yourself, but you are RUINING your local watershed. Soybean oil, I recently found out, is quite helpful in ridding your porch of pests, but I have yet to find a garden-option that doesn't make me wary. I'll update as I find new info.
As for keeping yourself happy: Making these positive choices to change your individual life, in my opinion, has GOT to do something for your overall outlook. Nutrients and vitamins that YOU worked to grow (or that you bought from a neighbor) gives you such a sense of accomplishment. And then, when you do find that garden that grows ice cream, and you indulge, going outside and walking in your neighborhood to work off those calories gives you a new perspective on your own little world. I find new valleys every time I run; I see a little animal here and there; and if I run towards dusk during the early Summer, I get to see the fawns with their mommas. If that doesn't make you happy, I'm not sure what will.
Using your world to benefit yourself, but doing so in a way that doesn't detract from the internal workings and external beauty of that world, leads to a happy life. It also leads to a happy world.
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