When Old Hippies Go Green

By Rick London

My loved ones know I'm going green and they worry at me. They really shouldn't. It is the right thing to do. Besides this is really not my first time to improve my quality of life. I started recycling many years ago, and other than taking organic vitamins and trying my best to eat natural foods, but that was about as much as I felt I could do at the time.

I woke up the other day and realized, not only am I over half a century old, I had been a part of the worst generation for this planet. The guilt started setting in like snowflakes gathering on a Chicago windowsill in December. I am a baby boomer. I was a part of the peace, love, free sex generation. Other than learn to talk back to our government (which actually turned out to be a good thing), we didn't do a lot for the planet. We smoked (and sometimes not just cigarettes). We drank too much. We drove big engine cars which had no pollution devices. And we thought we were "saving the planet"??? It simply shows how delusional one can become, if one gets involved in "a movement". And though, I must say some very decent music came out of that generation that is often copied, never duplicated, most of us didn't contribute a lot.

I really cannot, as a former male hippie (take note: am still a male) think of much our generation did to help our environment and quality of life.

It never ceases to amaze me that I survived my youth. While a student, I munched on sardines Cheetos and other junk foods. And we were a "special generation"? I don't think so. Keep in mind we were doing the best we could given the tools (or lack thereof) handed to us. I am sure our parents, professors, and other elders were more confused than us as to what was happening to our planet. We had no instant access to information. Yahoo! or Google didn't even exist, nor did a PC much less a laptop, at least not in my community.

So I did my damage and made my amends. The question is, what now, can I, as one human, do to make the world a better place? I can first of all make me better. I believe Gandhi was correct when he says "Become the change you want to see". So I exercise and watch my diet. I try to wear earth-friendly clothing and use organic cleaners in my home. I eat organic. I don't do this all the time, but it is a process. And it is a journey. And it is part of my growth. And it is proof to myself that it is never too late to do a little something, no matter how little, to modify my own behavior to do better. I can't change anyone else. I can barely change me. We do change though if we are truly motivated to change.

Why not practice beingg earth-friendly or eco-friendly behavior. It has value. Try a few forums and blogs and get to know some of the people who are doing things. You would be surprised at their joy and happiness and sense of fulfillment many of them have. And it is contagious. We're all in this together. Let's learn to do it right.