I was 13 years old walking through the mall with my mother when I saw it – a T-shirt that read “Earth Day, Every Day” with a picture of Mother Earth surrounded by animals and just had to have it. Some may question my fashion sense but it was the first I had heard of Earth Day and I wanted to be a part of it.

From there my penchant for pollution prevention grew. April is Earth Month and Earth Day is right around the corner on April 22. I’ve moved from consumerism to actually taking steps to celebrate and do my part to protect our planet.

There are so many ways to help the environment that you may have heard of, simple actions such as turning off lights and water while we brush our teeth. Here’s another one to consider, and I wish I could take credit but it came from my daughter. Alyssa came to me at this time last year, as she and her classmates had been learning about the environment and ways to protect our precious resources, and asked if we could ride our bikes to school. Since she had yet to master her bicycling skills as a kindergartner, she ran at first and then rode in the bike trailer the rest of the way to school.

This year, as a first grader, we continue this tradition – not every day – but most days she rides her scooter halfway and then in the bike trailer she goes as I pedal past the cars stuck in traffic, polluting the planet. I have had several moms come up to me and say “I see you riding your bike to school, I should really do that.” I just smile and nod but what I want to say is “why don’t you?” As the old Nike adage goes, “Just Do It!”

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that approximately 10 million barrels of oil were used each day in 2010. Individuals riding bikes help reduce petroleum consumption. Even if you’re not into going green, it’s a great workout and although it may take extra time to ride than drive, it can save time because now you don’t have to drive to the gym to work out. In any case, as my neighbor drove past me the other day to drop her daughter off, I actually beat her back to the house because she was stuck in traffic. By biking instead of using motor vehicles whenever possible, you’ll be simultaneously saving money, getting fit and helping to reduce global warming.

O.K., so I know this is not always a feasible option for many who have to drop the kids off and head straight into the office but don’t worry, there are lots of other ways to do your part. The Great American Cleanup takes place from March through May, where thousands of volunteers come together to spruce up, beautify and pick up litter in their communities. It’s a great activity for kids to become involved in and you can contact your local Keep America Beautiful affiliate to find an event near you. Visit www.KAB.org to learn more.

Can’t find an event to fit into your schedule? No worries…grab your kids and do your own neighborhood cleanup. My daughter and I, along with one of her friends, recently cleaned up our retention pond. (Once again, her idea…maybe I am rubbing off on her.) You’d be surprised how much trash we find once we started getting down and dirty.

Finally, last but not least, if you can’t find the time to do one of these simple tasks, my final challenge is to pick up a piece of trash — preferably once a day, but at least on Earth Day. How simple is that?
So, how does that fit in with “Think Globally, Act Locally?” That piece of paper or plastic can get washed down the drains when it rains, into our waterways miles away where it can find its way into our ocean contributing to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is the size of Texas, threatening our wildlife who often ingest or become entangled in it.

So, there you have it. Bike, clean up, save our fossil fuels and help save our environment. Do something locally that can have an impact globally. Happy Earth Day and remember “Earth Day, Every Day!”