Start your New Year Right .. and Green

This time of year, we start thinking about what we could have done better. Maybe you regret how much family time you wasted watching the idiot box or that night you let your kids eat ice cream for dinner. Good news: 2008 is a clean slate. So, what will you do with it? Oh, yes . . . resolutions. But this year, try them with a twist: make family resolutions. After all, common goals unite, and are you really going to break them with your kids watching? Here are some ideas to increase family bonding while keeping your priorities straight.

Remember that scene in the 1991 film “City Slickers” when the main character, Mitch (played by Billy Crystal), is talking with the tough old cowboy Curly (Jack Palance) about the secret of life? The exchange went like this:

“Do you know what the secret of life is?” Curly asks, then holds up one finger. “This.”

“Your finger?” Mitch responds in his usual joking way.

“One thing,” Curly answers, not responding to the “joke.” “Just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don’t mean —-.”

“But, what is the ‘one thing?’ ” the now truly curious Mitch asks.

“That’s what you have to find out,” Curly says, smiling.

While I don’t always rely on comedic films for my life-guiding philosophy, this bit of dialogue actually makes a deep and meaningful point: if you find one thing in life that drives you, motivates you, inspires you, whatever it might be, you’ve found a purpose. Work from there, and you’ll generally move in the right direction in life.

First place to start for me, is this list of 100 Ways to Save the Environment. There are probably many other sites like this with equally useful information, which brings me to the purpose of this post…

It’s the same way with converting to a green lifestyle. If you’ve been cruising along in the typical modern lifestyle without giving much thought to the environmental impacts of every action you take each day, the idea of re-tooling your ways to be more eco-friendly and sustainable can seem overwhelming. There’s so much to keep in mind, so much to do or not to do: don’t buy processed foods, do buy fair-trade, don’t redecorate with high-VOC paints, do buy sustainably harvested woods, and on and on.

Resolution 1: Grow your own.

And I do mean, oregano. Or tomatoes, zucchini, whatever you love to eat. Family gardening or in our case green house gardening is multi-tasking at its finest. You spend time together, set an earth-friendly example, and end up with the tastiest greens around. Until spring, gaze longingly at seed catalogs. See Abundant Life Seed or Organic Consumers Association to get you drooling.

Resolution 2: Oh yeah, the rest of the world.

With all we have to do just to keep up, sometimes we forget others. Break that habit. Together, decide on one charity to volunteer at as a family. You’ll help someone out, and your kids will learn how to give back. The American Institute of Philanthropy provides a list of worthy charities.

And your intrepid innkeeper has a healthy breakfast recipe… so you can do better in that area too And there’s nothing like the sweet scent of cinnamon to entice. . These pancakes are hearty, delicious and the perfect foil for your favorite compote, syrup or sprinkle of fresh berries.

Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 20 minutes, Makes: 12 pancakes

1 1/2 c. organic rolled oats
1/2 c. unbleached, all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 c. organic buttermilk
2 tbsp. Canola Oil, plus more for cooking
3 tbsp. honey
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 large organic eEggs, beaten

Mix oats, flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and buttermilk together. Mix in oil, honey, vanilla and eggs. Heat nonstick pan or griddle over medium heat. Drizzle pan with a little oil. Spoon batter onto skillet, making 3-inch round pancakes. Cook until edges begin to brown, and bubbles appear in the middle of the pancake. Flip and cook for about 30 seconds longer on the second side. Serve with maple syrup.

But it really doesn’t have to be that complicated. If you’re looking to build a better lifestyle, follow Curly’s advice and focus on “one thing.” Whether it’s shifting to a locally based diet, eliminating harmful chemicals from your home, or carpooling it, choose the “one thing” that feels most important to you, and start there. The rest will come with time.