I've let go of feeling like I have to do everything right. And accepted that I am a part of the mess. I'm human and I both contribute to the problem and do things to lessen my impact. I heard an author speak a couple weeks ago on the Climate Consciousness Summit hosted by the Pocket Project. Her book is called You Matter More than You Think: Quantum Social Change for a Thriving World by Karen O'Brien. I'm super into spirituality and consciousness so I'm interested in learning more of her ideas and how they relate to climate. And I shared the summit in an online community with someone who got a lot out of it and wanted to read the book as well. So we're going to read it together, learning and making new connections :)
Once a huge wave had thrown hundreds of see stars onto a beach. And there was a child picking up one, carrying it carefully back into the water, then coming back and getting the next one. A grown up came, and said to the child: "You won't be able to save them. There are too many. The few you rescue won't make a difference." And the child lifted the see star in its hands and said: "It will make a difference for this one."
Of course I just retold a well known story... Everything you do or not do makes a difference, name it karma or butterfly effect...
Climate action is so hard. Not taking action in and of itself, but knowing that our environment will continue changing rapidly on into the future despite whatever we do and don't do now. This is not despair -- this is reality. So some of what I do is prepare myself and those I know for the inevitable -- we are considering how we use the land and resources where we live now along with possible relocation. I talk about the subject incessantly, pointing out daily hypocrisy, simple steps toward saving resources, and ways to become independent of fossil fuels, but I know that the most difficult part of it all for me is the constant insecurity. There is no stopping the changes we have started and accelerated, but we can change how we live as the consequences of our collective actions take us back to a place where humans no longer have a sense of control over the environment, which is maybe not a bad development.
It's so interesting that we live in this individualistic society where we are all me, me, me. Over consuming, etc. And yet, we think, "oh, little oh me? What I do doesn't matter? I'm just one person."
It's hard for my brain to make sense of it all. I recently wrote a book that lays out my struggle to find my way as an environmentalist. For me, my journey started with food, which is an important component to climate change. My personal conclusion is that what I do matters and I want to live in harmony with the planet, animals, and people. It's been a journey and one that I resisted at many points along the way. But once I embraced living this way, I found peace of mind, which makes living easier!
In case anyone is interested, the book is called, Vegan Minded: Becoming a Steward for Animals, People, and the Planet. Many non-vegans have give me positive feedback saying the book has demystified veganism and the tone is non-judgemental and welcoming. (I hope it's okay to mention the book here.) Thanks for writing about climate change.
thanks for reading and for writing your book. And your point is well taken - we both want it to about me me me and yet we don't see ourselves as mattering - so weird.
I've let go of feeling like I have to do everything right. And accepted that I am a part of the mess. I'm human and I both contribute to the problem and do things to lessen my impact. I heard an author speak a couple weeks ago on the Climate Consciousness Summit hosted by the Pocket Project. Her book is called You Matter More than You Think: Quantum Social Change for a Thriving World by Karen O'Brien. I'm super into spirituality and consciousness so I'm interested in learning more of her ideas and how they relate to climate. And I shared the summit in an online community with someone who got a lot out of it and wanted to read the book as well. So we're going to read it together, learning and making new connections :)
love that! being together with people who care about the climate is so important~
Once a huge wave had thrown hundreds of see stars onto a beach. And there was a child picking up one, carrying it carefully back into the water, then coming back and getting the next one. A grown up came, and said to the child: "You won't be able to save them. There are too many. The few you rescue won't make a difference." And the child lifted the see star in its hands and said: "It will make a difference for this one."
Of course I just retold a well known story... Everything you do or not do makes a difference, name it karma or butterfly effect...
so true! thank you Martina!
Climate action is so hard. Not taking action in and of itself, but knowing that our environment will continue changing rapidly on into the future despite whatever we do and don't do now. This is not despair -- this is reality. So some of what I do is prepare myself and those I know for the inevitable -- we are considering how we use the land and resources where we live now along with possible relocation. I talk about the subject incessantly, pointing out daily hypocrisy, simple steps toward saving resources, and ways to become independent of fossil fuels, but I know that the most difficult part of it all for me is the constant insecurity. There is no stopping the changes we have started and accelerated, but we can change how we live as the consequences of our collective actions take us back to a place where humans no longer have a sense of control over the environment, which is maybe not a bad development.
Well said! Yes dealing with eco anxiety is a big part of taking constant action and I think loving the earth helps if that makes sense
It's so interesting that we live in this individualistic society where we are all me, me, me. Over consuming, etc. And yet, we think, "oh, little oh me? What I do doesn't matter? I'm just one person."
It's hard for my brain to make sense of it all. I recently wrote a book that lays out my struggle to find my way as an environmentalist. For me, my journey started with food, which is an important component to climate change. My personal conclusion is that what I do matters and I want to live in harmony with the planet, animals, and people. It's been a journey and one that I resisted at many points along the way. But once I embraced living this way, I found peace of mind, which makes living easier!
In case anyone is interested, the book is called, Vegan Minded: Becoming a Steward for Animals, People, and the Planet. Many non-vegans have give me positive feedback saying the book has demystified veganism and the tone is non-judgemental and welcoming. (I hope it's okay to mention the book here.) Thanks for writing about climate change.
thanks for reading and for writing your book. And your point is well taken - we both want it to about me me me and yet we don't see ourselves as mattering - so weird.
This is a vitally important conversation Jenn, thank you! Every small thing makes a difference so I am trying to do as many small things as I can.
I appreciate your message that we can’t wait until we KNOW we can make a difference.
And we do know we just don’t 🫶🏽