Good for the Planet
Do you wake up worried about how much more our planet can sustain our current level of consumption? Do you think about what one person can really do to make a difference? You are not alone.
Most people spend an average of 90% of their time indoors, either awake or asleep. While indoors, many of us do not have access to natural light or nearby fauna or flora. We suffer from nature deficit, and we feel disconnected from the natural world. When we hear about global warming or climate change, ever increasing levels of carbon dioxide, melting glaciers, more frequent and intense natural disasters, we may despair, or feel like there's nothing we can do to help.
The first and perhaps most important step to saving the only planet we know is to go outside!
Building a relationship with the natural world, through daily doses of nature, fosters connection. Gradually, we begin to care and understand the interconnectedness between the earth and ourselves.
Simply put, there is no substitute for spending time in nature-rich environments, especially those that are easily accessible. You don't have to travel far and wide to a remote forest to find meaning, to build relationship. Try something simple and accessible like spending time with a nearby tree, or in a garden or a park. Try unplugging from technology, so you can begin to listen, feel, touch, and sense the world around you.
As we begin to build relationship with the more-than-human world, we begin to care about the world with heart, in the same way we care for our family and friends. And, when we see our new friends in danger or threatened, we find ourselves more willing to speak out, and take action in ways we would not have otherwise done. We are more likely to donate our time and resources to causes which promote welfare to humans and the planet.
