Green Mojo

You know what?  After having read an article in the latest G Magazine, I believe that I have been suffering from ‘Green Fatigue’.  Here is an extract so you see what I am on about;

“The Murray-Darling water plan.  Coal seam gas mining. Old growth logging. That ‘great big’ carbon tax. Yep, 2011 was a hectic 12 months for environmentalists – and those are just the major campaigns.  When you factor in the mental stress of making ethical decisions every time you shop, eat or travel, it’s easy to see how you can end the year suffering from a severe case of green fatigue.”

Last year, I got so caught up in so many causes, workshops, and articles, that I had green fatigue!  As you have probably been aware, I have only been blogging this year in short bursts.  This was the time-out that I needed to recover and renew afresh.  I don’t want to burn out.

I remember back in early December, when the Durban climate conference ended that I wanted to just yell at the top of my voice at the delegates to get a move on regarding climate action.  But I didn’t.  In fact I didn’t even write about it because at the time, I thought the outcome was a lost cause and more procrastination from global leaders.  Yes folks, I knew something was up when I didn’t take the time to share my thoughts with you regarding the COP17 conference, but will do so in the very near future.

Over the past few days, besides having some nasty tummy bug, I have taken the time to self-reflect.  I believe that by taking this ‘me’ time, I look inwards and reflect on all of the achievements I have made since my green epiphany.  My brain is filled with things like, ‘am I doing enough, am I doing too much, is my ying and yang in balance, can we eat and shop more ethically, am I spending quality time with loved ones, am I truly rid of the consumer culture, and am I communicating effectively to those who read the things I like to write about’.  These are just some of the thoughts that swim around my head.  To aid my self-reflection, I answered about 20 emails from readers tonight that I have been putting off for the last week or two (Kim calls it my fan mail, but I am far too modest 😉 ).  When I reply to reader emails it makes me realise a few things.  Firstly that anyone who takes the time to send humble ol’ me an email must be keen to learn more, and secondly that they will probably take any of my advice/experience on-board and reflect upon it themselves, and possibly act upon it.  This gives me the feeling that I am making a difference, and that if we wait for governments to act, we would still be waiting for something to happen about the big issues I continue to write about.  A bit of self worth never hurt anyone.

However, the biggest thing that helps me get my green mojo back time after time is you, the reader of this blog, and my wife.  Let me tell you why.  You see, I am a bit of a statistics fan, and I track pages-view, demographics, and referrals to this site.  In the last few months, readership has grown considerably, as had the daily amount of page-views.  Over 2000 a day now and from all corners of the globe.  I am really proud that most of the things that I write about are sought out by people who are searching for answers, and want to learn about living a sustainable lifestyle.  What better way to help realise ones own sense of self worth.  However, it is a trap that can easily be fallen into.  Back when I first started writing about my sustainable journey, I would check the stats every day, and even though I only got about 10 hits a day in the first few months, I was encouraged to keep going by my wonderful wife Kim.  She egged me on, and here we are nearly 4 years down the track and 997 posts under my belt!  Who would have thought that I would have written for so long and about so many varied subjects?

So, with my green mojo intact and throbbing for action, 2012 is going to be a year to remember.  Please stay a while longer and enjoy the adventure!  Who wants to join me?