Earth Day Deficit Plan Addresses Overspending Nature’s Budget

The American Budget is not the only one overspent and in need of a deficit plan.  We are using far many more resources than the Earth can provide.  For starters, we are eating too much, wasting too much, using too much water and energy, overusing chemicals, polluting the air, land and water and as a result we are in a global ecological overshoot.  To slow down this ecological deficit and help accelerate the environmental movement, this year’s Earth Day theme is A Billion Acts of Green®.  This campaign calls for people of all nationalities around the world to commit to an act of environmental service to support sustainability and create a healthier one-planet future. Have you made your pledge?

Earth Day is Friday so make plans now to generate as many acts as possible in your community and submit them to be added in the Billion Acts of Green®. Collectively, these acts will not only have an impact on global carbon emissions, but will also demonstrate the power of small every-day individual acts of green. As an added bonus, many of these acts promote a healthier lifestyle - they can get you moving, eating better, breathing cleaner air and lessen your exposure to cancer promoting chemicals.The act can range from a simple gesture to an immense project.  Whatever the act, it all counts.  Here are a few ideas:

o   Eat a plantarian, vegetarian or vegan diet ~or~ simply eat less meat
o   Walk, bike or take public transportation to work or other destinations
o   Shop with reusable bags (grocery, clothing, household, etc.)
o   Support farmer’s markets and get fresh, local, seasonal food
o   Do laundry in cold water
o   Change out light bulbs to energy efficient florescent bulbs
o   Eliminate the use of pesticides (shop organic when possible)
o   Eliminate the use of toxic cleaning products (use eco-friendly products)
o   Get a home energy audit
o   Plant a garden or a tree at home or school
o   Recycle paper, plastic, aluminum, steel, glass, etc.
o   Eat more local food
o   Repurpose or give-a-way things rather than throwing them in the trash
o   Carpool more and use the car less
o   Trade in your gas guzzler for a fuel efficient vehicle

Millions around the world have already pledged to help save our planet.  What will you do to cut your nature spending and take another step towards your healthier lifestyle?  Choose your act and visit http://act.earthday.org/ to make your pledge today.  

Each year, Earth Day -- April 22 -- marks the anniversary of the birth of the

modern environmental movement in 1970. The idea came to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. The passage of the landmark Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and the establishment of the Earth Day Network (EDN) followed that first Earth Day.  Now more than 1 billion people in 192 countries participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

To find Earth Day events around town visit http://www.earthdayhouston.org/. 

Be Stress-Free Forever! 5 Simple Steps

By now you have probably heard that stress affects your health.  Stress can give you an upset stomach, headache, weakened immune system,  insomnia, even high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.  It causes our bodies to release Cortisol which lands right around our guts.  What’s more, when we are stressed we tend to over eat high calorie foods for comfort when we are not really hungry. And you know where that ends up…a moment on the lips...

So stress reduction is on the checklist of things to do for the healthier lifestyle.  But adults are not the only ones that may battle stress.

Our two year old son, who we adopted about six months ago experienced a great deal of stress and trauma pre-birth and as an infant.  Our therapist explained that he easily goes into a state of fight and flight because his world was always changing.  When he is stressed he screams, cries and wants food.  So we have to help him learn that we will take care of him forever, there is no more change and he does not have to fend for himself nor does he need food for comfort.  He just has to trust us.

Funny how this  has given us a new perspective of what God must go through trying to help us realize that His intent is for us to be stress free.  He is the affordable health care solution to our stress reduction.  So here are five simple steps you can take to be stress free forever:

1.    Cast – Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

2.    Trust –  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

3.    Take  – Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 1:28-30

4.    Choose - “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

5.    Be Thankful – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

The control freak in me finds this so hard to do - to let go and let God.   But I am going after it as one of my lifetime lifestyle goals. No need to go to God if I am going to stress out right?! Join me and see how minimizing stress will promote your goals for a healthier you.