Conscious, Sustainable Living in 2013

The holidays are coming to an end and we are creating our New Year’s goals, resolutions and aspirations for the coming year. How can we live a daily life that will contribute to a sustainable and eco-friendly world? Regardless of your actions during the past year, any day, every day, is a new day and an opportunity for change and growth. While there are many differences between each and every one of us, one great commonality is that we all inhabit the same planet and share the same natural resources. It is imperative that we collaborate to preserve and care for Mother Earth. Remember, “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” (Native American Proverb)

One of the most intriguing aspects of being eco-conscious is that there is a huge spectrum of “green” and we can adapt our lifestyles to being more environmentally friendly based on our own resources and lifestyle choices. There are so many ways to “green” your life and it is the collective efforts across the globe that will contribute to a more sustainable Earth.

Here is a list of simple, affordable and sustainable lifestyle choices that can create exponentially beneficial results for Mother Earth…

1. Decrease phantom energy consumption by unplugging unused chargers and appliances.
2. Reuse scrap paper. Print on two sides, or let your kids color on the back side of used paper.
3. Turn off your computer completely at night.
4. Support your local economy and shop at your farmer’s market.
5. Turn off lights when you leave the room.
6. Buy an inexpensive reusable water bottle, and stop buying plastic disposable bottles.
7. Switch one appliance to an energy efficient model (look for the “energy star” label).
8. Switch all your light bulbs to CFLs (or at least switch a few).
9. Plant an herb, vegetable or fruit garden.
10. Don’t turn on lights at all for as long as you can—open your curtains and enjoy natural light.

By: Sara Starkoff Green/The Give Bag

Conscious Living...Bringing enlightenment, information and inspiration to all those on the parenting journey across the globe!

"Conscious parenting is about slowing down and living in the moment; it is about finding the grace in every experience; it is about feeling gratitude for all the mysterious gifts that make up a lifetime." – Conscious Family Journal, June 2009.

Sara Starkoff Green founded G3 Give Green Gifts in 2010, as the result of a personal “a-ha” moment. Long committed to living a green, eco-conscious lifestyle, she was struck by how much waste her family was creating from giftwrap at various gift-giving occasions. After some initial research, her concerns were confirmed: Wrapping paper and shopping bags alone account for about 4 million tons of trash annually in the U.S. As much as half of the 85 million tons of paper products Americans consume every year goes toward packaging, wrapping and decorating goods.

Sara initially made the commitment to use beautiful reusable bags as gift bags but found herself using tissue paper, gift tags, greeting cards and more just to complete a gift. She knew there had to be something better, thus The Give Bag™ was born. The Give Bag was created as a simple, fun, sustainable, cost-effective way for people everywhere to positively impact Mother Earth.

A true entrpreneur, Sara opened a Palm Beach event coordination firm in 2003 and successfully produced special events for nearly a decade. In her work with events, Sara saw first-hand the need for “green elegance” across the event industry, and specifically in gift and favor presentations. Sara is a former columnist and published author, and is truly passionate about Mother Earth and committed to living green. Her philanthropic work includes leadership positions in various local community activities. She lives in South Florida with her husband and their two daughters.

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Written by: Sara Starkoff Green

Today is the day! You can make a conscious choice to live a present, enlightened and informed life that will exponentially benefit you and your loved ones. Parenting is a journey and one that I am blessed to enjoy each and every day. I have always loved the quote "It takes a village to raise a child" and that rings so true for me. While the "village" varies greatly across the globe, based on family dynamics, resources and many other factors, I firmly believe we can live a more enlightened, educated and fulfilling life when we seek personal growth. When we seek knowledge and wisdom from our "village" we will in turn be better parents and caretakers. I learn something (many things, sometimes) on a daily basis about parenting and its my goal to make every experience, interaction and challenge an enlightening experience. If we wake up each day with a conscious commitment to be present with our children, to live a life by example, to interact genuinely and strive to live an authentic and moral life, our children will grow up to do the same.

I challenge you to make the parenting journey as much about your own development, growth and enlightenment as it is to bring those qualities to your childrens' lives. Choose one thing each day that you will do to improve yourself and your role as a parent or caretaker. Start simple...for example, commit to no phone calls in the car when you are with your kids. Do it for one day. Don't turn on the DVD player in the car, don't hand them an iTouch or iPad or other electronic distraction. Engage them. Ask them questions. Exercise their brain. Show them love and attention. Aside from the physical dangers of talking on the phone while driving, when we talk on the phone with our kids in the car, we are telling them that they are less important than whomever we are talking to. The moments we have uninterrupted with our children are few and far between in this fast-paced, chaotic world. So, create this positive engagement with your own children. Learn about their day and their world and you will be amazed at their receptiveness AND the growth in your own heart.
Until next time...thanks for joining me on this journey of Conscious Living!

Take a moment to comment and share with us what you learned about your child's world today???