I covered some ideas for green resolutions for the New Year in the previous post, but I’d also like to share a few of my personal resolutions for the coming year. The first of my resolutions for 2008 is to spend more time outdoors with my children. I was given a great book for Christmas called Last Child in the Woods, in which journalist and child advocate Richard Louv links the decrease of nature in the lives of our children to some disturbing modern trends like obesity, attention disorders and depression. Add this to the research by the College of Human Ecology at Cornell that indicates enjoyable experiences of nature in youth can shape the way we feel about the environment as adults, and you’ll understand why I want to get the kids out more.

I grew up in a hot country where we spent very little time indoors and my dad is convinced this is why I’m such a greenie. The cold weather doesn’t have to be a deterrent to spending time outdoors though, just wrap up warm and get out there.