Am I an Environmental Hypocrite?

There is a LOT to learn about the environment to complete this project. Before I start learning it all, it’s time for some more stock-taking.  It seems to make sense to do a brief assessment of what I know best: My own habits. Are my everyday behaviors harming the planet, even as I resolve to protect it? Could I stop myself even if I wanted to? 

Must I really face this embarrassing question:
Am I an Environmental Hypocrite?

If so, can I legitimately purport to be making a positive impact overall, despite my individual negative impact?

Ok, time to come clean (pun! See, the environment can be funny.). Scrutinize my own behaviors through an environmental lens. After just a shallow dip into the world of personal accountability for the environment, I must conclude that I am, indeed, not exactly living what I might end up preaching.

Without any research, I already know it’s not in the best interests of the planet that I:

• Drive a gas-guzzling car, often without anyone else in it. 
  
• Wash that car.
  
• Don’t bring my reusable water bottle everywhere I go.
  
• Buy lots of things in plastic bottles, including water.
  
• Buy other stuff that comes in Styrofoam packaging.
  
• Use the heater and A/C to keep the house 64-80 degrees.
  
• Fly.
  
• Use wrapping paper.
  
• Leave the lights on.
  
• Leave the computer on.
  
• Leave everything plugged in.
  
• Luxuriate in long, hot showers.
  
• Know about a draft coming under the door, but do nothing about it.
  
• Flush the toilet more than the average 5 flushes/day.
  
• Put sandwiches in plastic bags.
  
• Don’t buy local.
  
• Don’t buy organic.
  
• Don’t compost.
  
• Order takeout.
  
• Use a dryer instead of a clothesline.
  
• Water the yard.
  

Ouch. A bit painful to see it all laid out like that. But now you know the worst about me. And I might have a sense of where to start. But wait! The goal is to make the biggest possible positive impact on the environment. Maybe I can do that even without changing my filthy personal habits. Must look further.