Tara Stanford explores what being “green” really means? How can I become greener? Do I have to trade my car to be green? Can I wear make-up and still be green? Is it easy to incorporate “greenness” into my daily life? What are the benefits of being green; is it really going to make a difference? Can I green-up my lifestyle and still take advantage of my own luxuries?

There are many stereotypes that surround the notion of being green. What images conjure in your mind when you think of someone who lives a green lifestyle? What words? What lifestyle choices? Perhaps terms like “tree hugger” or “crunchy” come to mind; or someone who has alternative dietary choices; or someone who drives a hybrid vehicle with 25 bumpers stickers plastering the back window.

Maybe those images are legitimate, but maybe not. My family of four lives a green lifestyle – at least our lifestyle is as green as we are able to make it. I don’t drive a hybrid, and we aren’t vegetarians, but I’d say we’re crunchy. Some of the choices we make are mainstream; others might be a little different from the mainstream, but we make it work for us. Part of becoming greener is making it work for you.

But what does it really mean to “go green?” Artistically, green is the color of nature, symbolizing growth and harmony. It is a cool color and represents safety. For me, being green means taking actions to protect nature; it means helping my children grow in a safe natural environment; it means preserving as much of the natural earth for them later in life and their descendants; it means working in harmony with the natural world, and figuring out how I can give back as much as I take; most importantly, it means maintaining the Earth’s natural environmental balance so that it can continue to sustain the luxuries I have come to reply upon. Being green is a consciousness – a mindset. My definition of being green might be different from yours – and that’s OK. We all have our own motivations for the decisions we make.

My purpose is to share tips and ideas with you on greening up your own life. We are all different shades of green: some are fairly green, others are just green, and even others are very green. The tips and ideas I share will address different shades of green lifestyles – a little something for everyone.