"Mom. Dad. I know that you've gotten to know me over my lifetime as, well, a care-free, floater who accepted everyone but didn't know where he fit in. Someone who worked hard, no matter what, but just hadn't found passion. But i sat you down to let you, my loving 25-year Navy veteran father; and you mom, the retired teacher/minister know...that...ummm...i'm green."

Today was one of those days where i read a common statement. "My main struggle is getting people like my own dear dad to understand
the whole topic [green] (not sure he knows how to spell sustainability, bless
his heart!)."  I know the feeling. After spending years in the restaurant/bar business, trying to convince people just to come to bars and drink to their heart's delight, my parents were sort of shocked to hear what my newest business was. They were also surprisingly pleased. I say surprisingly because i think many people of my generation think our parents are uninterested in the idea of changing their ways, learning new ideas, and changing a planet. But you forget, that no matter which generation they belong to, they probably already did that in some way. Maybe this is the salesman in me but shouldn't that be our main target? People who have a history of attempting to make a change. 

When my parents moved to Lake Norman, NC from Montgomery, AL i had already begun to work on "greening" myself. Not long after, I launched the first of several green businesses and simultaneously, a full on campaign to make sure they made some changes as well. It wouldn't be easy. Their side of the lake doesn't even have trash pickup. But, as i walked around their house this past weekend i realized that they were doing some of things i had suggested.  My dad went to the laundry room and emerged with a bottle of GreenWorks cleaner. I noticed a seperate bin for recycling. I told them about this new website and they actually looked it up. Not huge changes in their lifestyle but positive momentum in the right direction for sure.

We have to remember that this isn't the rise of complex technology that maybe our grandparents never understood. This is something that requires ALL of us to understand it. Age is not a reason for not being able to put an aluminum can in another container with this crazy new label on it, or for keeping all your lights on. Maybe, just maybe, it's that we've been typical for our generation and forgotten to include everyone for fear of losing our independence. Maybe, we need to educate them that any change is a good change. Point them to where the rally is and let them march at their own pace.

I'd love for people to post ways their parents are going green. Are they buying energy efficient lightbulbs as they burnout or are they self-installing solar panels on their roof? Send a photo, tell a funny story, or share some news!