When I recently read the words of Stephen Hawking in which he begged us to start looking into space colonization because he believed that we just weren’t going to have the resources to be able to continue living on earth, I was shocked for a few reasons and I asked myself some important questions.
The X Files?
Hawking’s belief has nothing to do with what anyone’s opinions are on life on other planets, which admittedly to me, is one step away from an unbelievable episode of The X Files. However, I can see his point –the earth is in danger. And, frankly, we knew this. The fact that one of the most brilliant men on the planet made this remark is certainly shocking. Can we even wrap our imaginations around the one-day potential possibility that we’ll have to evacuate the planet due to our neglect of it? It’s a hard and sobering remark to hear. I can see where that would make us feel, well, a bit defeatist, as if everything we’ve done has had a limited impact if, as Hawking feels, we’re just going to have to eventually leave earth anyhow.
Don’t Give Up
But we can’t stop now. I’m trying to think of Hawking’s request as a call to action, an excuse to remember that for every tiny choice we make, whether it’s finding a recycling bin or choosing small ways to connect with the environment while we’re traveling, whether it’s using stainless steel water bottles on trips or seeking to get involved with the world of carbon credits, we can still have an impact.
Track the Good Stuff
Download a Smartphone tracker to keep aware of the good green choices you’re making. Several apps offer ways to track daily green choices, list nearby green groceries, or monitor your energy consumption. If apps aren’t for you, simply make a list of all the changes that you are able to make and focus on those. One of my favorite sites to remind myself to stay positive is the Nature section of The Daily Good, a website that lists all the “good” news.
