In recent months we've all been reminded that we have a responsibility of being good stewards to the ecology and that recycling is a good thing. How are we doing?

Better now than we had been, perhaps, but we still have a long way to go.

Glass and Plastics

We still spend a lot of money on things that just a few years ago we were throwing in the trash. Things like glass jars and plastic containers are huge.Now, I'm not one to try to put companies out of business but here's what I'm talking about.  

We went through a phase where we were throwing away very serviceable glass jars, candle holders and vases. Back then, and still now, we purchase foods like sour cream and cottage cheese and toss them  in the trash. But wait. Many of those glass and plastic containers are perfect for storing leftovers, spices and all manner of other items small and not so small (screws, rubber bands, loose coins, you name it). How do I know? Because glass jars just like the ones that were discarded in the 50s and 60s, Tupperware and similar plastic containers are big business today.

Now I'll grant you, the labels on many of these containers are downright ugly; and, removing them can be more than a little off-putting, Many of the labels are imprinted directly into the plastic. Yet, with a little effort and imagination the containers can be put to good use many times over before being tossed into the land fill. Elbow grease, soap and water and a little arts-and-crafts magic can actually make these discards quite attractive. Same goes for styrofoam egg cartons and such.

Many shoppers have turned to cloth bags for carting groceries home from the store. Some stores actually offer a couple pennies discount for each cloth bag you use. That's a good thing. But wait. What about those plastic shopping bags? They can be recycled, too. Why discard them altogether? Yes, we can return them to the store to be recycled; but, why do that when they can be work very well for storing old receipts and tax records, yarn, clothing and for lining household garbage cans, discard kitty litter and other nasty trash. Is it really necessary to buy new trash bags when we already have used plastic bags at our disposal?

Electronics and Household Appliances

Technology has added a level of urgency to the threat of overflowing land fills. Built in obsolescence is alive and well – and a huge concern. Tell a dealer you you need to have a machine that's more than 3 years old repaired. Invariably they'll look at you in disbelief and announce "That's a very old machine. I don't know if we can do anything for you." It's so much easier to sell you a new replacement.

Fortunately, some companies are starting to be much more proactive although to do our part, requires effort and money we normally would not expend.  We still pay a little more to buy recycled paper and other earth-friendly commodities. We generally pay a bit more to return trade-ins and that does take some creative thinking when your aging body no longer can manhandle the bigger pieces..

I had a laser printer that died after 6-7 years. What's a conscientious earth-lover to do? Toss it in the trash? Put it in a recycle bin? I went on quite a campaign looking for a replacement that didn't require me to purchase an all-in-one with all the bells and whistles that I'd never use. I found it at my local Office Max and was pleasantly surprised, that they and HP offered a rebate for trade in on my dead machine. Problem solved!

My vacuum cleaner was a bit more challenging. I'd fallen on it and broken the dirt cup – long story, don't ask.Fortunately there were no broken bones – just the cup and the filter needed to be replaced. I searched the internet at great length, called several companies and the manufacturer, and had just about given up. It seems the model and its parts have been discontinued. I really dreaded buying a new machine when I knew the motor was just fine. Now, I've been told I'm a stubborn sort and, finally, just when I was ready to drag the vacuum out to the trash, company could get the replacement parts for me.

Old vs New

Now, I like "shiny, new" as much as the next guy. And, I do understand that manufacturing, buying and selling are what keeps the economy strong. But this, in my mind, is an issue of false economy. I'm no longer willing to discard something that works just to replace it because of age. Being just one generation removed from the Great Depression, I believe: "If it's not broke, don't fix it; and, if it can be fixed, don't throw it out."

It's all in a frame of mind. Old is not necessarily bad. Antiques are beautiful and – often – quite service-able. An old machine is just a collection of parts. Parts can be changed and the useful life of the machine can be extended many-fold IF someone will just make the parts and make them readily available. Throwing away a glass jar, a plastic container that needs to be cleaned or a machine that needs a gear replaced (for example) just to buy a new one doesn't make much sense – and certainly isn't earth-friendly.  .

Granted, nothing lasts forever, but with a little effort, there's a great deal we can do to stop the waste, save some money and slow down the overflowing landfills that threaten our environment. We're making some progress. With a little thought and determination we can do a whole lot more..

©2012 creativeoptions.com. All Rights Reserved.

Meet Monte.

My daughter planted Monte last year when working in a Chicago highrise office. She loves plants as much as I do. I suppose this passion for nature is embedded in our DNA. Anyway, one day she came across a seed while she was eating a grapefruit. She decided to plant it to see what would happen.

As it turns out, grapefruit plants are excellent indoor plants. They are proof positive that you can enjoy the best of all worlds living in a Chicago condominium. You just need to open your eyes.

It was her pride and joy and the envy of her co-workers.  But then she changed jobs and Monte needed a new home.  At first she tried moving Monte to her home. But her cats just wouldn't leave it alone.

So now Monte lives in my condo with me. While I've planted avocados and potato vines I had no idea just how striking grapefruit plants are. The plant's large deep green leaves offer a dramatic accent to any decor.

Grapefruit plants grow very nicely with a little water (overwatering will turn the leaves yellow),  MiracleGro and a little fluffing of the soil from time to time especially when you put them in a sunny window. But, they're not entirely self sufficient. They do require a little extra TLC. Two of the biggest problems are

1. Some cats love to chew on the leaves – not all cats, mind you (My own cats, are singularly uninterested in Monte.

2. Grapefruit plants – even if grown indoors – are prone to insects. I have no idea where these pests come from. Insecticidal soap and horticulture oil will resolve this issue. The trick is you can't buy these in small quantities here in the big city; but, that's ok because you may need to apply these remedies several times. The good thing is that the horticultural oil gives the leaves a lovely shine as you can see here.

I took this picture of Monte after the first Chicago snow in January 2012 because it provided such a wonderful contrast. Monte is a very welcome companion to have around during Chicago's dreary winter days.

©2012 creativeoptions.com. All Rights Reserved.

Age has its benefits.Among those benefits is the freedom that comes from knowing that you have developed skills sufficiently that you don't have to stop and analyze every move you make. You know how to put together a wardrobe that suits your body type and personality. You probably know how to ride a bike and iron a shirt. You may know how to make the best ever Italian spaghetti sauce and how to use your local library and your computer. You know how to interact with other people. You know how to think for yourself.

But wait…

Don't get too comfortable. The world is constantly changing. And the media is here to tell us that we have to adapt and change if you want to keep up with the world you live in. The common wisdom seems to be that your worth is predicated on your ability to compete and outshine everyone else, to sell more stuff and to fit the current mold and to spend more money..

Fashions change every year – nope, every season. Through the years, men's ties and suit collars change as frequently as women's hairdos and the length of their skirts. When we were young we paid great attention to what we wore because we were so desperate to be accepted. And we bought into the belief that how we dressed determined our status in life. We knew that within 10 seconds others were judging our worth by what we were waring that day. There was a time, would you believe, that women wore hats and gloves when going out in public, to work or even shopping. Today everyone, man and women alike, feel quite comfortable wearing jeans and tee shirts to work, even in offices in downtown Chicago. 

You may not have to learn again how to ride a bike. but if you drive a car, you know the challenges of keeping up with the law. Back when, the speed limit on freeways was 50 mph and 5 miles above that got you a ticket. Then the speed limit was raised to 70 mph…only to be reduced again to 60 mph (never mind that if you keep to that limit you're going to be run over by drivers who have little concern for limits. Engineers designed right turn lanes to facilitate moving turning right – when traffic allowed – even when the light was red. And then they put up signs that restricted those turns so that you must wait for a green light…and, then, later installed cameras that would record violations. (A word to the wise, you can be certain you'll receive a ticket in the mail if you aren't very, very careful.).

Even meeting people has changed. Remember the days when you met people at community and church events, shopping, disco clubs? Remember when everyone was expected to follow basic etiquette when in the presence of others? Well, that's no longer true. Today, all you need to meet new people is a computer or iPad. You don't need to dress up for the occasion, and you can spin any yarn you choose because the person on the other side isn't necessarily ever going to meet you in person. The world is so small now that anyone can meet countless others online. You can meet a new person every day of the week and, because your choices are endless, you don't even have to try to be nice to that person when you do finally meet them.

The world has grown very small indeed. At times it seems like it is closing in on us, dictating our every move. At other times it seems like we might as well be on a deserted island because we just don't seem to have a firm handle on what it means to be a productive individual in 2012.

But when you reach "a certain age" you realize that life is a moving target. People are people. Everyone has different beliefs and expectations. And that's absolutely OK. You reach a point where you know that the only life you're responsible for living is your own.

The best part of growing older, though, is that you can choose for yourself how you're going to live your life. Of course, You can't break laws. If the traffic laws change, ignorance isn't going to save you from tickets and hefty fees for violating them. But, finally, you come to a place where you realize that you can choose the people you will allow into your life and what behavior you are willing to tolerate. You finally realize that it's OK if others don't agree with you or live by your standards. You can choose to learn from them or to walk away. You can give them space to be all they can be but you don't have to buy into their standards and belief systems.

Age definitely brings with it wonderful benefits that youth can't even imagine. You finally realize that you don't need to control anyone else and you don't need to prove yourself or justify your decisions.You discover that it's OK if others don't agree with you and that you don't have to explain to others the choices you make.You learn, once and for all, that you don't have to compete with anyone and that it's fun to interact with others who share your values.

As you age, you realize as never before, that life is a learning process. You thrive on what you can learn and experience. You discover that the more you know, the more you you have to learn. Every day becomes a new blessing. You discover that trends change at an ever increasing rate. But, you also see that with all the ebb and flow of politics, religion, etiquette, and behavioral norms, some things are constant. And, finally, you achieve the freedom to choose between what's important and what isn't.

©2012 creativeoptions.com. All Rights Reserved.

January 1, 2012 – It's arrived! at last.

Personally I'm completely and utterly happy to put 2011 to bed. It was a tough year for many.

I think we make a huge mistake when we dub any year – or a day – good or bad. Time just is. What's good or bad is what we all do with that day or year. If enough of us use the time for good it is good.  If we cumulatively and individually can say that we have become better and have grown in age and grace. Then it was very good indeed. If not, we've wasted a precious gift.

January 1 – like every new day before an after – brings with it promise and opportunity. Each day we wake up we can choose to start all over again. We can choose to continue on our journey through time carrying with us all the baggage we tend to accumulate along the way. Or we can choose to travel light, leaving personal and emotional baggage behind. If we learned well, we won't need that baggage. It will only hold us back and interfere with the work of the present.

Twenty-twelve is considered by many to be an epic year. Some fear that it's the end of the world. Others assure us it's the door to a grand new epic for humanity. Either way twenty-twelve has a nice clean, uncluttered feel. It rolls off the tongue easily. Twenty-twelve challenges us to move forward confidently with eyes and hearts open. Where there was a terrific amount of backsliding in 2011 with so many striving to revert to prejudices and damaging practices of the past, 2012 bursts forth proudly and reminds us that past is past. We should indeed honor the past and learn from it but it deserves to be buried.

My resolve this year is to set aside all the unpleasantness, anguish and ugliness of this last year and tuck the lessons learned during in 2011 in my personal backpack. I plan to travel light welcoming each new day of 2012, ready to take advantage of every opportunity this new epoch year has to offer. In the grand scheme of things, the world is a living breathing organism and I am just a tiny insignificant piece of it. I can't individually change the path humanity is on. But I can spend this year wisely, doing my part to help make each new day count..I don't want anything to weigh me down or interfere with my ability to make this new year and each new day in it spectacular beyond belief.

Join me?

©2012 creativeoptions.com. All Rights Reserved.

As 2011 winds down we look forward – hoping that somehow 2012 will be different – better. Some of us make "New Year resolutions" the first day of each year. Setting goals for ourselves is always a good thing to do, although I really can't understand why January 1st is designated as "resolution day".  Successful people set goals and resolutions much more frequently than that…often on a daily basis.

New Year's resolutions are great if we follow through, act on those resolutions and hold ourselves accountable. Too often, though, those resolutions are discarded within a matter of days. Be honest, now, do you remember what your resolution(s) were for 2011? I sure don't.

There has to be a better way.

I have decided to take a different approach this year. No resolutions for me. I'm going to dream…not just any dream but BIG dreams. I'm going to allow myself to be fully engaged in the biggest dreams of my life and I'm going to build on those dreams every day – every chance I get. .

There's method to my madness.

Resolutions are logical and fact based. But dreams, done right, involve our emotions. Success gurus and marketing experts all tell us that we are motivated not by facts but by emotions.

So this year, I'm giving myself plenty of space to day dream.These are going to be dreams that come from my innermost being – not dreams that others tell me I should be having. I'm engaging all my senses and feeling the emotions that come with my expectations for the best year ever. I'm not even waiting until January 1, 2012 to begin.

Of course, in order for this to work my daydreams will have to be very, very vivid and magnificent. Not just dreams about a new car or a huge bank account…much more awesome than that. Those day dreams will need to be so emotion charged that I will be driven to follow through. The goal is for those daydreams to be so alluring and convincing that they will permeate my daily life.

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. And it's going to be ever so much better than anything that's gone before. Join me?

©2012 creativeoptions.com. All Rights Reserved.

May every joy you can imagine fill your life today and throughout the new year.

©2012 creativeoptions.com. All Rights Reserved.

Christmas is just 2 1/2 days away now and you probably still have lots to do. Here's hoping that you were able to find everything you were looking for when shopping this year. I'm guessing that you are pretty well finished with your preparations outside of wrapping, preparing holiday treats, and, perhaps, final decorations.

These last two days have always been a time of considerable activity in my family. Usually we were busy making fudge.cotton balls, and (of course) potica, which is our family holiday bread. Usually we waited until Christmas Eve to put up and decorate the Christmas tree. before trotting off to Midnight Mass.

TImes change and yet, I generally keep family traditions fairly consistent. This year, it's a bit easier because Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday, which is normally not a workday. I'll make a limited number of treats since my children are now grown and we're all watching our weight. Everything's ready for the grand making of the potica. It just wouldn't be Christmas without that. We've been planning for weeks to enjoy posole for Christmas dinner so that will be done ahead of time, too. In the interest of saving a tree, we've decided to decorate with branches from our holly bush and pine cones. 

I'm looking forward to a stress-free holiday at home with my daughter. I hope you will enjoy your last minute preparations. And I hope that you've remembered to schedule some "time for me" amidst the hustle bustle of these next two days. When all is said and done, it's not how perfect everything is – but how perfectly you enjoy the spirit of the season.

Enjoy the holiday. Whatever you do to celebrate, make this year's Christmas you'll be proud to put in your memory book.

©2012 creativeoptions.com. All Rights Reserved.

Are you a hopeless romantic? Caught up in the holiday season? If you are, you will understand that Christmas is a transformative holiday like no other. If you're not "into" the holiday – just can't get into the spirit, that's ok. Here's how to light the spark.

Sometimes we get caught up in a buying frenzy. When we do, we lose the magic of the season. And, no, you don't have to be a staunch Christian focused only on the magnificent story of God becoming man and being born in a manger who was visited by three wise men from the east who brought him exotic gifts.

In times when so many are out of work, losing their homes and desperately seeking solutions to economic challenges that seem to crop up one every 70-80 years, it can be difficult to think Christmas and all too easy to forget possibilities..

It's true that everywhere we turn from Thanksgiving until December 25th, we're inundated with messages that glorify buying the latest and greatest offerings of the season… Our email includes overwhelming numbers of coupons and special promotions. You know what I mean:  "Get 50% off"… "70% Discount Today Only"… "2-Day Holiday Special" …."Buy Now". And, the news is filled with reports of how profitable (or not) this year's sales are for stores and corporations across the land.

But, I'm much more interested in the traditions of Christmas…The stuff on which O'Henry's The Gift of the Magi was written. I'm talking about the story of a jolly old man traveling the world to give presents to good little boys and girls… a whole team of elves spending a busy year making gifts…These are the traditions that speak of real Christmas traditions created by people who give of themselves to create holidays that continue to live on throughout entire lifetimes and beyond:

The magic of Christmas that is to very thrilling to me includes: The crafters who work into the wee hours of the night to make handmade treasures for loved ones… housewives who concoct mouthwatering treats out of everyday ingredients for family and friends alike. and fathers who, when times are tough,  work tirelessly to rejuvenate an old bicycle.or build a doll house for their sons or daughters. 

When we were children we invariably woke up in the middle of the night and sat for hours beneath the Christmas tree waiting in wild anticipation for the adults to wake up so we could see what Santa brought. As adults we want to provide that same magical experience for our youngsters. This year, though, many will feel pangs of regret because it is simply impossible to do that.

If you are among those – or if you know anyone who has been out of work, or lost their homes or suffered a devastating setback, this is a holiday for you. If you're among those fortunate enough to have none of these challenges, this is a holiday for you, too.

Christmas, more than any other throughout the year, is a time that speaks of giving of ourselves.It's a time when families come together to share special moments..perhaps making tamales, potica, popcorn balls  or divinity fudge…or decorating the dinner table with pine cones and twigs from a fir tree…perhaps going out in small groups to sing Christmas carols. The presents wrapped in colored paper and set carefully under a decorated tree and the toys and the expensive gadgets will be outgrown. discarded and forgotten all too soon. But those treasures made by hand for another and those shared experiences of working together to make the day just a little bit more special will remain with us throughout our lives. 

We have one more week to capture some of that magic. Best of all, no one is so hard pressed that they can't find a way to give something of themselves. Spare us the big screen TVs and the mechanical robots that do everything but burp the baby…

I'm not saying don't give gifts. But please include among this year's presents something of yourself, even if it's just an hour or two of your time. And, don't forget those who are less fortunate…who may be spending the day alone.

©2012 creativeoptions.com. All Rights Reserved.