Last month, as part of Break the Addiction's 12-Step Program, you learned how to Considered an Alternative. Now it's time for you to think back on a year of Breaking the Addiction and take Step 12: Celebrate Your Impact.

Hard to believe it's already been a year! Twelve months ago, you took the first of 12 steps in our program to Break your Addiction to bad habits that contribute to climate change. You've done a lot to make the world a greener place - from making eco-changes in your own life, to calling on your community to make environmentally friendly decisions, to urging your congressperson to vote for our planet's well being! So go ahead, pat yourself on the back, you deserve it!

Last Earth Day, you took the first step and Examined Yourself, taking a closer look at how your lifestyle affects the earth. Step 2 was to Choose Wisely: Your daily lifestyle choices, such as eating organic or riding your bike, can make a big impact on the environment. Step 3 was a call to Become Independent and inspire others to join your green revolution. You started your greener way of living right at home, by Re-Energizing Your Space. Step 5 was all about Transporting Better, while Step 6 was a call to Get Political and vote with your environmental conscience. Then, it was back to school, when it was time to Go Paperless. And when you were dying to shop, you Shopped Smarter. At the supermarket, you decided to Go Healthy by opting for earth-friendly food. For Step 10 - Love, Protect, and Preserve - you gave a hug to Mother Earth with a green Valentine's Day. And when Spring Break finally rolled around, you Considered an Alternative and did some good with your time off from the books.

You've now reached Step 12. The time has come to reflect on what you've accomplished and Celebrate Your Impact. Now it's up to you to spread the green word and get everyone else to break their bad eco-habits: your friends, family, community, and lawmakers. On April 14th, take part in the National Day of Climate Action. Join the thousands that are gathering at rallies all over the country to send a clear message to Congress: cut carbon emissions 80% by 2050! If there's no rally near you, start your own! Go to Step It Up to find out how to get involved and spread the word. The following week, join Earth Day on the Hill and look your representative in the eye as you lobby Congress for emission caps. On April 22nd, commemorate your greener way of living and continue your drive towards an eco-friendly future by joining an Earth Day event near you. And last, but certainly not least, don't forget to celebrate yourself for helping to save Mother Earth.