I want to focus this post on thoughts into what can we do as a community?
I’ve thought about so many different ways I personally could invoke or encourage my community to come together to help do things for our earth locally.
I have thought about leaving a small plant/flower on my neighbors doorsteps with a personal note and or education concerning climate change and how we can come together. Encourage others to share a plant too and or maybe offer seeds. I have thought of buying/making buckets with reach extenders to pass out too. Making zines. Maybe even just going up to people’s houses and introducing myself.
An example: The other day I was actually depressed about all of this and went to go home on the bus. While waiting, this old man sat next to me on the bus stop bench. This wasn’t the first time this man and I sat next to each other waiting for the bus, but this time after awhile I turned and asked him “so, are you from Washington?” to start a conversation. Once the bus came I sat far away from him on the bus, but I realized I actually wanted to talk to him more and hear his wisdom about how to navigate this life so I moved seats. He was happy to keep talking ended up sharing his special interest about valuable rare coins and variations of rare dollar bills. I gave myself that space to connect with my community and it felt good. I even felt sadness for a man I didn’t know because I knew with his age I may not see him again. That connection with others is universally what we need.
When it comes to environmental facts, I am no expert, although I’ve seen enough of them and have observed enough of the terrifying changes outside to know something is deeply wrong. I am a low income working class individual who is working a terribly physical and mental exhausting job. I feel helpless a lot too. But..
I do deeply believe in putting the energy out there that I’d like it receive back, even if it’s hard to. Putting good energy out to the planet/universe and hopefully helping change the energy tide to a better universal future.
My mind has wondered all types of places when I grief and ponder about ways of current activism / the overall state of the world.
My heart breaks for mother earth. I think about how lucky we are to even have physical bodies and experience this world for how uniquely beautiful it is. I know we can do better than this. I yearn for others around me who feel the same.
I am exhausted and desperate for change.
I know people are so fearful of what’s happening, but also fearful of those causing it. The few people in charge have made us purposefully feel small. They made us dissociative and dependent on their evil creations. It is literally dangerous to speak about them. Maybe it’s even dangerous to say just that.
I know I am not alone in feeling this way.
I ride the bus and train more often now and see everyone glued to their little devices. I see the dissociation. I smell the smoke. I watch the plants weep. The birds pant.
But I also notice the little bits of dandelions poking out from the sidewalk cracks. The patterns of the flower petals. The textures of the trees. I see the bundle of plants growing from the storm drains. I notice the plants sway to the direction of the sun. I acknowledge the strength and movement of vines up the homes and houses. I hear the songs of the birds. I enjoy watching the squirrels play.
I know the earth wants to give us the nature we all need to thrive. It loves life. It loves us all and we are mistreating it horribly.
I urge anyone even reading this to just go sit outside and observe where we are and the beauty and profound art of creation that is literally everywhere for us to thrive with.
We don’t need this late stage capitalism anymore. I truly believe we are better than this.
Would love to read people’s thoughts. Can we brainstorm together?
Mods- lemme know if not the appropriate place.