I am always attracted to stories about people's lives and how they unfold into creating something new.

Inevitably during life, paths emerge that can take you here or there. How you feel about whether you go here or whether you go there seems to me to make all difference. For example, thinking, well, I should go here because that would make the most sense is one way to look at it. On the other hand, if you feel like going there instead, then the energy you have to put into going here isn't going to be so great, when you are spending your time thinking what if I'd gone there instead?

Just the other day, I was reading an article in the newspaper about a family that created something called Cool the Earth. This was launched by parents Carleen and Jeff and it has already over 3 years motivated over 50,000 kids and their families to reduce carbon emissions. Inspired by Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" they developed a program to motivate households to make changes through school programs that address environmental issues. It's a parent and volunteer run program operating during lunch and recess and geared toward children from kindergarten throgh the eighth grade.

Students are given action coupon books outlining 20 no-cost or low-cost ways their family an reduce their carbon emissions such as using less electricity and water, changing to energy-efficient light bulbs and asking mom and dad not to idle the car. The program has now reached more than 200 school and youth groups in the Bay area and more than 15 others nationwide.

I imagine this family having fun around the dinner table, brainstorming with their kids over the coupon books. Who knew that their idea could grow as it did.  They ended up going there instead of here.

To visit them and find out more, go to CoolTheEarth