At Little Piney, I hear the wind coming before I feel it on my face. Of course, if I choose not to listen, the wind comes anyway\u2014I just get surprised. It\u2019s the same way with rain. The damp air, the slight drop in temperature, the changing light all signal coming rain. If I ignore the signs and linger by the lake the rain will catch me unprepared and unsheltered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many times we choose to ignore the signals given by nature. If I am having a wonderful time, I might ignore the coming rain and deal with the consequences later. Getting wet is not that bad!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given more serious consequences, we might ignore the signs from nature because of a protective mechanism called denial<\/em>. If the truth is catastrophic, and we feel powerless to change what is coming our minds may turn away from the truth. If we can only tolerate our feelings for a moment at a time, we bury the information that terrifies us. The problem is that if we stay in denial too long we miss the window for experiencing the emotions that will prompt us to take action. That is what is happening with the environmental issues facing us now\u2014we are in denial that the consequences of our actions are destroying the earth as we know it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Much of the damage is irreversible, and for the most part we don\u2019t know how to recover from the position we are in.\u00a0 Unfortunately, we can\u2019t stop the ice melts before they raise the sea level and increase the speed of global warming.\u00a0 We probably won’t clean up the miles of plastic soup in the Pacific ocean destroying sea birds and marine life.\u00a0 We can\u2019t help the birds and butterflies confused by warmer temperatures who start migrating before their food sources and nesting grounds are ready to receive them.\u00a0 We can\u2019t replenish the aquifers we have depleted or regrow the ancient forests that clean the air for us.\u00a0 Many of us check out right here, telling ourselves it’s too late, or someone else will fix it, or it’s “fake news” –but please stay with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We can\u2019t hold on to the mindset that our actions don\u2019t matter, because if we do we will fall into hopelessness and despair while continuing to make matters worse. While scientists and researchers monitor the temperature change and ice melt and look for ways to create fresh water, we have to think of what we can each do on a personal level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We can\u2019t change everything we do at once, but we should do as much as we can as soon as we can. Holding the idea that the choices we make have an impact on the earth, our home, changes our priorities. If we see our home as a resource to use up as we see fit, we end up without a home. If we think of our home as a living world to care for that also cares for us, we might be able to have it longer. Even if we think that the earth is dying, we should want to treat this planet who has served us well with reverence and dignity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Do I do all of these things all of the time? No. But I am trying. Don\u2019t know where to start? Pick three actions that sound easiest and work on those. Most importantly, think of what this earth means to you and hold that thought as you go through your day taking action after action that impacts the future of this planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For most of you, none of this is new information. But if any of it is new and upsetting to read that\u2019s okay, too. Our emotions are our best resource for action. If we don\u2019t feel grief about what we have done to the earth, and we don\u2019t feel fear about the consequences, we are likely to continue to destroy what is left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n For resources, check out the articles below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n This moving video documentary portrays the work of Joanna Macy on acceptance and activism interwoven with the story of seabirds who ingest plastic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a> The Work that Reconnects, documentary by Pat van Boeckel<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n A report from Cornell University documenting the decline in bird population since 1988.Some things we can do for the Earth:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Learn More<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ecological grief and seabirds<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Decline in bird population<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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