Reconnecting to our environment

For decades, we, as a human race, have plundered the resources of this earth under the guise of “progress and profit”.  I am not against progress or profit but question whether the price should be the sustainable future of this planet being inherited by our children. Are we being fair to the millions of creatures on this earth that live in harmony with the environment we are all part of? 

This month, many experts and leaders gathered for the United Nations Climate Conference (COP26) to discuss the complex problems and potential solutions to this global issue.   

However, I like to think about this rather overwhelming topic in more fundamental terms.  We are all self-appointed stewards of this Earth. Only here for a relatively short life span.  It is our duty and responsibility to ensure we all do our part in reducing the negative impact we make on this earth in exchange for convenience and easy living. We can do that by the choices we make every day.  Do we need to use one-time-use plastics? Are there alternatives? Can we make environmentally friendly choices with the products we buy? Should we support businesses that are committed to reducing their carbon footprint? How can we connect more with the environment and pay more attention to our impact? 

Children are naturally connected to the environment.  Go for a walk in nature with them and they notice EVERYTHING!  They delight in the smallest of things – a fluttering butterfly, a frog by the creek, a bird singing in the trees, fish swimming in the river.  Children feel the connection to Mother Earth. However, somehow as we grow up, we lose that connection as we go about living our busy lives. Once we lose our connection to the Earth, we become complacent. We become disconnected ...not only from the environment we live in but perhaps also from ourselves. 

In One Drop, Endless Ripples I sought to reignite that connection through a story that draws the reader into the environment as a droplet of water.  Perhaps if we fall in love with our environment again, we will make better choices and think about the impact we have on this beautiful Earth. Perhaps we are all simply “One Drop”, making ripples on this earth with every decision and action we make…