I read the magazine Resurgence & Ecologist regularly. It is published in the UK and is worth getting a hard copy. Contributors include Satish Kumar, Vandana Shiva, Christiana Fugueres , and Bill McKibbon to name a few. I read it from cover to cover, every other month, hungry for new ideas and solutions for our current state of environment and social atmosphere.
Today, I read the piece “The Stubborn Optimist” by Catherine Early as she interviewed Christiana Figueres about her book about the subject. I have to admit, I am one of these.
It’s not that I am not outraged and extremely sad about what is happening to our beautiful planet, full of beautiful People and well,…beauty in general being destroyed everyday…it is simply that I cannot live in a state of despair. Practically stated, I do not think it is helpful.
I spend a lot of my time outdoors. It is hard to be depressed when I am paying attention to what is around me. This spring has been especially rich with birdsong, notably with the decrease in both the noise of traffic and the pollution that goes with it.
I spend a lot of time indoors, too. Part of that time is with my own interior territory, getting to know myself better, and paying attention to what my body needs. Listening deeply to my inner questions and desires, seeking direction and purpose.
I do have days when my resolution to be positive falters, and I allow an indulgence of sorts. I noticed this last week…and made a choice to stop it when I recognized my motivation was lacking. This seemed to be the barometer that got my attention. I had 2 days of low energy, and sadness that crept into my discussions. You may have days like this. So I told myself before sleep on Wednesday night: “tomorrow will be a brighter day”. First thing on my mind in the morning was “today is going to be a good day” in response to a creeping feeling of sadness upon waking. This seemed to help.
Thursday did turn out to be a day full of rain and the watery world of the river corridor where I live. Wandering in the soupy trails and terrain, I recovered my delight by noticing the beauty of a moisturized planet. My senses were revived, despair gave way to awe. I was able to help relieve a friend’s headache and sinus pain, and we shared a meal together. The simple joys of connecting and being of service.
There is no trivialization or romantic notions of what is happening here. People are suffering, they always have and always will. To be in despair is to have a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness. I am not hopeless or helpless. I will continue to swing back toward optimism as soon as I become aware that I am going down that other path. After all, I do have a choice, and for that I am grateful. Not everyone does.
A movement moment for self care
Judy Fasone, Trager® Practitioner