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Though I'm not a Christian and am not really qualified to speak on the deeper religious aspects of the Lenten season, the idea of personal change though sacrifice of ingrown habits is one which certainly crosses religious boundaries. So for the next 40 days, no matter your spiritual path (or even really if you are deeply atheist) here are some ideas which can help you both green your life in practical ways, as well and get in touch with the spirit of green a bit more:
1. Start an Electricity Fast Consider spending three nights each week by shutting off the television, shutting off the computer (yes, don't read Planet Green) and shut off the video game system. If you've got a smart phone, don't cheat and check your email or browse the internet on it either. And then set aside one day on the weekend when these things stay turned off as well. Use the time away from these electronic devices to indulge in some electric-free activities: Reading, board games (Scrabble!), time with your friends or family, walking, yoga, bike riding. Anything that gets you away from staring at the screen, consuming electricity and physically interacting with something that doesn't have a keyboard, remote control or game controller. Here are some ideas if you're stumped: 8 Ways to Have Fun Without Electricity This Winter.
2. Go Vegetarian, At Least Part-Time It's hardly a secret that I frequently tell people that adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet is one of the most powerful things you can do to green your lifestyle. But I also realize that for many people, doing it in one go may be a bit much. So what I suggest is that for the next 40 days you try being a part-time vegetarian. Cut meat out of your diet (and that means fish too...if it's got eyes it's out) for at least three full days a week. Or if you'd prefer, make it one full day and then one meal every other day. I admit that it's a pretty big dietary change for some people, but with the right vegetarian recipes in hand, I bet you won't find it nearly as hard as you think.
3. Make Every Sunday a Slow Sunday You may or may not have heard about a movement called Slow Sunday. It was started out of Resurgence Magazine in the UK and makes the point that in an age of pre-packaged, largely homogenized bread, baking your own bread is a political act. If you live in a big city or wealthier rural area you probably have great artisanal bakers around, but outside of those circumstances good tasty wholesome bread, the kind that can't be rolled up in your fingers into a tiny ball, isn't always easy to find. To remedy that, take a stand against bland bread and every Sunday over the next 40 days bake your own bread. If you're new to baking make something simple; if you're a middle of the road cook try out some new recipes; if you're an experienced baker try to really perfect one recipe. And when you're done be sure to share it with your family or friends. If you want to get deeper into the spirit of service and sharing, each time bake two loaves of bread (or a double batch if you're making flatbreads) and give half of it away to a neighbor.
4. Become An Un-Consumer It's easier than you think: For the next 40 days resolve to buy nothing new. Obviously essentials such as food and medicine don't count. If you absolutely need something (it breaks, is lost or stolen, whatever) pledge to buy that item from a second-hand source. It may sound like a radical idea, but becoming an un-consumer is about much more than being frugal or reducing your consumption of natural resources (though those are important). It's about taking yourself outside of the culture of neverending consumption and the mindset that brings. It's about cultivating contentment.
5. Give Yourself a Green Education No, you don't have to enroll in some course: There's a great education just waiting to be had at the library. If you need suggestions, here's a list of great green books to get you started. Why the library? Because if one of the central ideas of living a green lifestyle is reducing consumption of natural resources, then sharing books and libraries are a central part of that. Don't have a good library near you, or maybe need some obscure book? If you have to buy, buy used. Preferably from your local used bookstore (though I suppose if you don't have a good library, used bookstores might be rare as hen's teeth too), but several online booksellers have great used sections as well.
6. Establish An Automobile-Free Day How about committing to not driving anywhere one day each week for the next 40 days? And don't just sit around the house. Get out there and walk or ride your bike, or do some work with your hands outside. Experience moving more slowly through the space around you. Pay attention to it all and notice the details that get obscured moving past in the car. There's probably no better way to get in touch with the wonder of the world than moving slowly and simply paying attention. The more practical benefit: You're lower your fuel bill slightly and probably get in a bit better shape by the end of the time period.
7. Keep a Green Journal I suppose this a discipline more than a sacrifice, but in my mind the two are closely related. What I want you to do for the next 40 days is to keep a green journal. Every day make a point of observing the world around you. The period of observation need not be overly long; probably 15 minutes of contemplation will do. Do it before work staring out your window if your window if you have to (or maybe at work, but don't get caught...). But really look, really observe. Find one aspect of the scene before you are examine it. Simply look and try to have 10 thoughts or so about it without interruption. Examine it without judgement. Instead, what does it look like, feel like, smell like, taste like? Are their bugs on it or not? How does it move in the wind (or stand still)? What if water hits it? How does the light reflect off of it? You are building concentration, observation and quietness.
