So often I wonder how it is that I can inspire people to change the way they think, or do things differently. Not a lot, just enough that they feel comfortable with it so that they can implement and continue without compromising their beliefs. Create the unerring nerve to be a part of a new future which will drive this world into the bright sunshine of hope.
It is disappointing that with all the things happening in the world, all the social media shares about various unacceptable practices and intolerable cruelty, people still just don’t get it. The planet is in dire need of help. Actually I should say our WORLD is in dire need of help. On so many different fronts human beings are making choices which seriously impact on the environment and other creatures which we share this world with. Whether it is our consumption of meat and other animal products, our use of plastics and other environmentally UNFRIEDNLY products, or supporting other practices which result in the destruction of life or habitat, there is an immediate need to change the way we live, but for many the road to achieve this is unclear.
I, like many others have made personal choices which affect the way I live my life. I don’t eat meat, I use non disposable shopping bags, I grow some of my own fruit and vegetables and share them, and I remain conscious of the products I buy as often as I can to ensure that I am purchasing items which have a reduced impact on the state of the planet, which is in part caring and in part the breaking of habits which have controlled what we do for so long.
So, where does the problem with humanity lie at this point in time?
I believe that one of the biggest issues, one of the biggest stumbling blocks is greed. No, I am not just pointing at multinational organisations or big business who suck the life out of the earth for the sake of profits to fill pockets and support lifestyles which are obscene, I am pointing at you as well. The fact is that it is our demand which keeps these people going and as hard as it seems, to create a better world we need to make sacrifices to our lifestyles, we need to make choices which will impact in many ways on our daily life, and for many of you this could be very difficult.
All too often I am hearing people comment on various things related to lifestyle and these include, “I can’t stop eating meat” or “I can’t walk instead of use the car”. Some may hear this and say that these are legitimate excuses, but I would disagree and I would remove the word legitimate and just leave ‘excuses’. You see it is just a set of words which form an excuse and it is so easy for people to find a reason not to do something, when the greatest incentive to act is staring them in the eye, the thought of not having a world to live in. What more can you want than that. We have just one world and we share it with all of life. Together we are an intricately woven web which spans the globe to maintain a healthy mix of diverse species and plants which all play a role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Despite all the science, we have not found another world in the vast cosmos, so this it, our only hope. The oceans, the forests, the animals which inhabit these places are all helping to maintain a world in which we can survive, but we are destroying them and it. We are living a totally unsustainable lifestyle.
What do we need to do? It is really quite simple. Each and every one of us needs to stop being selfish. Each and every one of us needs to stop making excuses. Instead of telling us what you can’t do, start looking at what you can do, what things you can implement. These can be big life changing things or they can be small steps. If you are not able to stop eating meat or using dairy products all together, then use them less frequently. Look at food options which contain environmentally friendly products or use sustainable practices. Catch a train to work one day a week or walk to the shop on a weekend instead of driving the car, so you can save the environment, get fit, and hear the birds sing. Say no to plastic shopping bags, and use your own carry bag. Even something as simple as encouraging people who are championing causes you agree with, and sending emails to companies or political organisations which express your concerns can help, and with today’s technology can be done whilst you sit and have a coffee.
Remember that doing something to make the world a better place has no social boundaries and no economic boundaries. It is never about what you do or how much you give, but that you find even the smallest thing which makes a difference. You and many others are all trowing tiny pebbles into the ocean of life and the ripple will become a wave. You have the opportunity to sacrifice something small, or the planet. Which will you choose.
So I ask you all to consider not yourself, but others. Don’t turn your back on the world, face it and challenge it head on and challenge those you know to do the same. I ask you to look at what you can do, not what you can’t, and most of all I ask you to be a part of the solution not a part of the problem. As a society we must become more aware of what is happening in the world, and we must be more responsible in what we do, and if you can find it in you, grab a handful of pebbles and cast them in the ocean, and you will be amazed at what it does.
‘Dare to change the world’.
Some great challenges here for us all 🙂
Yes there are. Every day is full of challenges, but hope and believing in yourself can make a vast difference to the end result. 🙂 🙂 🙂