Every Monday Matters And Just Do One

I am always thinking of things to do to make a difference; not in a big way; I can't seem to get out of my own way most of the time taking care of daily family & work commitments. Then something comes along that grabs my attention. It's the old saying about taking that first step to make a change.... if you start something today and take a little at a time, you can accomplish much and the same items won't be on your New Year's Resolution list. I have time to do new things (I have tasks I wanted to start years ago that I still carry over on my list each year - how bad is that?!!).

So I have found two inspiring movements going on. Here's the first:
So when I read this I knew it was a way to motivate me into beginning some of the activities/tasks I keep postponing.

Every Monday Matters Video

It started with a piece of trash.

Matthew Emerzian, a successful music industry executive in Los Angeles, was walking back to his office with a co-worker one afternoon in 2004 when he stopped to pick up a plastic fountain drink cover from the sidewalk and put it in a nearby garbage bin.

"My co-worker quickly asked me what I was doing," Emerzian recalled. "I explained what I thought to be the obvious, but apparently I was wrong." To the co-worker, litter simply belonged to the litterer, not to the population as a whole.

"I explained to him that litter and pollution are everyone's problem not just the person who couldn't find the trash can for their cup lid. He profoundly responded with 'Dude, you're weird.'"

Emerzian, now 38, walked back to his office both angry and sad.

"I couldn't believe that someone could remove themselves so far from the greater good of our world."

Matt began to think, 'what if everyone in the country picked up one piece of litter on the same day.' Or 10 pieces! The math was easy, yet so powerful. He then began to think of a few other easy things that 300 million Americans could do to make a difference.

From this, a great idea was born. He called his friend, Kelly Bozza, and told her that he wanted to write a book about how all of us can make a difference with our lives. Within a week, they had over 100 items on their list and were ready to start writing.

Their book, titled Every Monday Matters...52 Ways to Make a Difference, has sold 120,000 copies. The ideas are simple - small acts that collectively add up to an enormous impact for the greater good.

Dr. Martin Luther King said, "Everyone has the power of greatness; not for fame, but greatness. Because greatness is determined by service."

If you view the book, some of the topics are things we may have done in the past, but could easily have a book club, Sunday school class,work team, family activity time.... all get involved with just the encouragement and organization from one of us, take one step towards your goal each Monday. As you can tell I have several things I have wanted to do but never start..... Next Monday....

The second movement is called Just Do One. It is an effort to change one behavior into a "greener" choice.
I was inspired when my sister in Maine, with 40 degree, windy weather was using her outdoor clothes line to dry her clothes (yes, in the winter! It is freezing in Maine!). So here's a link for the clothesline. Your local hardware store probably has retractable clotheslines - they are not expensive and come in a variety of lengths.

So I chose one idea to do from now on. I am into the convenience of the water bottle and drink at least one a day. So at work now I will refill from our filtered water system rather than throw the bottle away each time. I also use travel water bottles (remember the old style thermos; they have come a long way baby)! So I will use travel/exercise/reusable bottles from now on and fill them with our great tasting tap water (we have really good water from our artesian well).
That's my new habit change... no more buying and throwing away plastic water bottles.
What's your green idea or resolution?

Thanks to 5 Minutes for Mom for this topic and many more on the Around the Blogosphere list each week.