Children of the Universe

There is a lot of urgency in the growing trend to become sustainable. The truth is Sustainability is not so much about lower carbon emissions and climate change, as it is about social equity. The current economy which has effected all occupations, businesses and families serves to teach us empathy for those who have nothing. We're learning we can still survive consuming less and though our financial situation may be in the toilet, most of us still have light at the flip of a switch and water from the tap (which by the way is better in most cases than bottled water). Now is not a time for panic, it is a time for gratefulness for the gifts we have and a time to use our brains to create a better environment for all, especially those who have less.

Al Gore uses an attention getting statement in his speeches. He says that Americans use up the natural resources equivalent to five planets, but in reality we only live on one and no matter what we do, the sun still rises in the morning and sets in the evening. Life goes on no matter what we do. The Earth will take care of itself whether or not we drive ourselves into extinction is totally up to us. Mother Nature has no preference as to whether or not we inhabit the earth. She has provided all we need to survive; it’s up to us what we do with it. When we’re done the earth lives on.

The reason we have still not moved out the recession (and for many it's a depression) is that there are still many people out there who just haven’t gotten it yet. They still spend when there is no money to spend or sit by helplessly waiting for things to go back to the way they were. Unfortunately many of these people are in places of power, in large corporations and governments. People in general are holding on to the past, unwilling to embrace change for the fear of the unknown. The tighter they hold on to the past the longer it will take for the recession to end.

Instead of resisting change, try to embrace it. Look at your current situation as an opportunity to create a renewed sense of purpose. After all, it’s not money that brings you happiness; it is a sense of purpose. This is why the sustainability movement is growing so fast, because the sense of purpose is a strong driving force that brings people happiness. And people will do the things that make them happy faster than doing what is required of them.

There is a saying “When you know better, you do better”. I’m not about beating anyone up for how we have arrived to this place in time. Many decisions are made without the knowledge of what the outcome will be. But now we know better and it would be one giant step backward and possibly into extinction to continue to use up our natural resources and ignore the suffering of others. Let this time be your time to embrace a new sense of purpose. Live purposefully and open to new possibilities of prosperity for all who want it. We are the children of the universe, magnificent as the creator who created us.

Tomorrow will still come, where will you be, and what will you do with it?