Let me be honest. I thought the idea of having an all green issue was about as wise as wearing socks with sandals. I felt that the matter of being environmentally friendly had already received far too much time in the media's spotlight.

I am naturally a pretty 'green' person, overall. My showers are quick, I don't leave water running, I take reusable bags when I go grocery shopping and I am good about recycling.

I try to be as 'green' as I can, but that can be difficult given the society we live in. There is a constant media reminder that we should recycle, yet it once took me over ten minutes to find any sort of recycling bin in downtown San Francisco. This would not be my first recycling frustration.

My apartment complex has a trash shoot on every floor. All I have to do is take ten paces out of my door to throw that garbage away. Recycling my trash is a more epic journey as I'm forced to walk downstairs and toss those items into the recycling bin, awkwardly located near my building. I cannot help but wonder how many people in my complex fail to recycle their items due to laziness or confusion as to where the bin is. This took me back to the reoccurring nightmare, which happens to take place at the SFSU dorms year after year. On campus, residents are so desperate to dash out of their boxy living arrangements that they'll literally throw away perfectly good lamps, bookshelves, comforters, baskets and just about any other trendy home décor.

The other day I was looking to buy make-up remover. With this magazine issue in mind, I decided to buy something that was environmentally friendly. I purchased some overly priced make-up remover wipes in which a small portion of proceeds go to a polar bear fund. Thinking that I was doing a good deed, I paid for the removers and went home. Hours later I found that while, yes I was helping the bears, the wipes themselves were about as crappy as our ozone layer. Despite my dislike for the wipes, I have continued using them rather than just toss them out wastefully.

Aside from some of my bitter experiences, I've made a more conscious effort for a greener lifestyle. I'm aware of turning the lights off in my apartment and I even stopped myself from throwing out an old shirt the other day. Rather than just toss the tattered off-white top, I have decided that perhaps I can use it for dusting or other household things.

I believe that everyone has the ability to live an environmentally friendly lifestyle. However, they have to be willing to make the change.