Taking a Critical Look

When we think about the idea of “sustainability,” our minds become flooded with concepts of local food systems and renewable technologies; we think of recycling, driving less, bio-fuels, environmental preservation, and climate adaptation—the list surely goes on and on. A word can easily lose its meaning if defined too broadly.  I sense that the very term of sustainability has lost its meaning in the process of trying to encompass too many broad concepts for change.  We have developed certain green jargon to try and relay a sense of human responsibility and relevance to the larger issue of climate change and the environmental movement. It is important to not forget that as much as “sustainability” does refer to some of which I listed above, there is a far deeper human element enveloped in this idea. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the daunting and radical changes demanded by the idea of sustainability. But we must remember it is simply a term to remind us that we must take action in our lives and strive to become more responsible and compassionate in the way we interact with one another and the Earth. 

The first step in becoming a more sustainable citizen, I think, is to take an honest look at the way we live our day-to-day lives. Once we identify the ways in which we spend our time, we will then be able to dive a little deeper into understanding the motivations behind the things we do. I think a lot of us will discover through this reflection that much of our time is spent buying into the consumerist and globalized pressures of our society. If we don’t step back every once and a while to see if our motivations are in line with our actions, we will find ourselves living in ways that stray far from what we had intended.

We have it programmed in our genetics to be compassionate and co-dependent on other beings, but that importance is often veiled behind the superficiality of the political, economic and social structures we have in place.  Luckily, our creative and thoughtful selves are capable of seeking out much more fulfilling and sustainable lives by removing ourselves from the inhuman foundation which holds far too much power in our society.  Living in the CELL and Solheimar community, I have been reminded of how important it is to assess my own motivations against the decisions and actions of my day-to-day life.  Through this I have been able to identify what truly generates happiness within my life and also what takes away from it. I want to simplify my life in a way that allows me to connect with this magical world and the humans that inhabit it.  I want to be consumed by the thoughtful innovation that drives us toward positive change—not materialistic gadgets that take away from it. I want to gaze upon a beautiful landscape that has been treated with the respect it deserves—not one that has been exploited by the greedy and by the ignorant. I want to support the farmer who grows nourishing food in my own community—not steal from poor nations, who if it weren’t for us, would be able to support themselves.  If we all were to put ourselves back in check, we would see that many aspects of our lives don’t support promise of a hopeful future for our children and the generations to come.

I believe everybody has an idea worth spreading and this is both my idea and the ideas of many others. We all have an obligation to be active stewards while residing on this planet.  I’m sure, many of the concepts of sustainability will inevitably become part of your life if you take a critical look at the way you live on this planet today.  Get rid of what’s excessive and replace it with something more meaningful, even if it is as abstract as an idea. Then share it. 

Here is link to one of my favorite websites. It is a great resource for learning more about sustainability related issues and practices: http://www.inspirationgreen.com/

                                                                                                                         McKayla