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When Old Hippies Go Green

By: Rick London Suddenly becoming earth-friendly at middle age can frighten those around us. Especially those who think it is "just some trend. I've tried before. I began recycling many years ago, and other than taking organic vitamins and trying my best to eat natural foods both of which I still do.

Then, at age fifty-three, which I am now, I had an epiphany. I had been a part of the worst generation for this planet. The guilt started setting in like snowflakes on a windy North Dakota winter night. I am a baby boomer. I was a part of the peace, love, Woodstock 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 V8's and used premium gas. And we thought we were "saving the planet"??? It simply shows how deluded one can get, 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 that came out of it, merely survived it.

It is curiously obvious my ambivalent generation did not care about our planet. I do not think it was out of meanness but out of ignorance. I guess we did our part by keeping the floors of the barber shop shiny and hairless, but anything else

My early college days consisted of eating a lot of sardines, peanut butter and Big Macs. And we were saving the planet? Not quite. We were clueless. Consider though we were doing the best we could given the tools we were given (which were dismal at best) . I am sure our parents, professors, and other elders were more confused than us as to what was happening to our planet. There were no cellphones. There was no cyberspace. Sometimes I wonder how we didn't become extinct.

So my 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 authentically motivated to help make positive change; to help our environment.

If you are not already practicing earth-friendly or eco-friendly behavior, I suggest you try. Join 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. This old dog may be learning new tricks after all, and if I can, so can you.