A recent Gallup Poll, called the Healthways Well-Being Index, has rated Boulder, Colorado, the #1 healthiest and happiest city in the country. It was based on an analysis of 353,000 Americans in 2009. The interviewers asked individuals to assess their jobs, finances, physical health, emotional state and communities.
Having just visited my daughter, Grace Boyle, who lives in Boulder, I was not surprised. The restaurants are excellent, the town is surrounded by boulders, mountains, and forests with Boulder Creek flowing through the center of the town. Boulder is surrounded by a wonderful greenbelt with 120 miles of trails and there are 9 bookstores between 9th and 18th streets. Does reading books make us happier? I’m pretty happy when I spend time in bookstores!
I think the 300 days of sunshine per year in Boulder contributes to feeling happy. In Iowa, I think we have almost 300 days of gray skies. Okay, this isn’t official data but it seems true. I think the sunshine alone adds to their happiness level as I’ve written about in many posts about how 20 minutes/day of skin exposure to sunshine is needed to manufacture Vitamin D in our bodies.
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
Earth Hour is a global World Wildlife climate change initiative which invites individuals, businesses, governments and communities to turn out their lights for one hour on one day of the year to show their support for action on climate change and global warming.
This year’s date is Saturday night, March 28 from 8:30 – 9:30pm in your time zone, a sort of ripple affect across the planet.
Some well-known landmarks all across the world are getting involved too; the Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House and the Golden Gate Bridge will all switch off their lights from 8:30-9:30pm this Saturday, March 28. It’s estimated that 2000 cities will participate. Las Vegas is so well-lit that it’s visible from space, so it may turn out to be the most dramatic place to be during this year’s Earth Hour.
I’d love to have a satellite view of the darkening of the world!
Please join in, tell your friends and colleagues, take a photo or video of your experiences. Where will you be in that hour?
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
3 Reasons to celebrate global warming are that it forces us to wake up, be creative, and to respect our resources. I’m happy that global warming is waking us up, because many of us stay in a trance unless there is a crisis situation. We have just had it so good for so long, that we’ve forgotten to take care of our planet. When our economy, food and water supplies are threatened, we wake up a little and try to change. (more…)
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
One of my passions is protecting our environment. Although the task seems too huge for one person to make a dent in the enormity of the problem, I know that each footprint matters. I feel happier just knowing that in each moment I really can affect global warming. For more inspiration, please see what these sites have to say: A Green Cross and Forced Green Blog.
3 Simple Steps to take:
1.) Plant a tree. World forests produce 40% of the earth’s oxygen. We can each do our part by planting trees in our own towns in addition to protecting the Amazon Rainforest to prevent deforestation.
2.) Drive fuel efficient cars, walk or bike more. The United States is the highest fossil fuel, CO2, emitting country in the World, with 1.59 billion cubic tons of carbon released into the atmosphere in 2002.
National carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per capita – Maps and Graphics at UNEP/GRID-Arendal
3.) Use phosphate-free laundry and dish soaps. If each of us did our part, we could impact our polluted waterways. It’s easy to find biodegradable products such as Seventh Generation or Shaklee Products.
What are you doing each day to go green? We’ll be happier and so will Mother Earth!
Photo: I took on the grounds of Brown University in Providence, RI 2008
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
It’s Earth Day and my birthday!! I walked in the woods around the lake in my neighborhood this morning with my binoculars and notebook in my backpack. The good thing about living in Iowa is that after a cold winter, Spring is so appreciated! Every year on my birthday, I write all of my wishes for the year. One of my wishes today is that you join me to save and celebrate our planet, Even if you don’t believe in global warming.
I’m so proud that I share my special day with the Earth. There are so many simple things you can do to protect planet Earth’s natural resources. Try these two ideas:
1. Avoid excess packaging, buy in bulk when you can and look for beverages in refillable bottles.
2. Re-use or carry your own grocery bags to the market. Decline a grocery sack when you can carry the items by hand.
Check out:
http://www.regeneration.org/tips-downloads/
http://www.bestgreenblogs.com/
Do you have any ideas that you’ve been using to go green?
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
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