Small Steps

This isn't really an Earth Day post, although it could apply if you think of it that way.

It's about taking small steps toward being the person you want to be in terms of your finances, your health, your simple lifestyle or whatever it may be that you want to change about yourself.

All-out makeovers are overwhelming. It can hard to begin recycling those plastics, glass bottles, newspapers and aluminum cans all at once. It's can be financially difficult to overhaul your diet in one fell swoop. It can be time consuming, at first, to get into the habit of hanging your laundry and using cloth diapers or cloth napkins. For some of us, it can be nearly impossible to stop and smell the roses and appreciate each day.

It's easy, though, to change just one thing. Begin by recycling just aluminum cans. Hang one load of laundry a week for starters. Give up just one type of junk food for the first week or month. Take a coffee or tea break each day, even if you have a mountain of work to do.

Then, once that behavior becomes a good solid habit, add another. You're less likely to be overwhelmed and more likely to succeed.

Today I'll be buying my first couple dozen eggs from a local farmer. It's a small step primarily aimed at improving our diet, but it will also help the farmer a little and may eventually keep some eggs from being shipped to my store from dozens or even hundreds of miles away.

I'll also be taking time to sit down for an hour or so to enjoy working on an afghan.

What small step will you take today?