Directional Movement

One of the good people I've had conversations with is Connie Heppner Mueller. She has helped build a group called Altona Community Action Network.     https://altonacan.blogspot.com/

They've worked on various projects around their community, around garbage and compost, reusable grocery bags, (boomerang bag project) and other things. One of her pet projects has been waste reduction. If you want to see her work, you can find her on instagram. https://www.instagram.com/waste_reduction_project/

I was very inspired by her work in this area, but although I made an effort for a while, I didn't get anywhere near her 2 liters of garbage per month goal. Not anywhere close!!! But I became more aware of waste in our home, and was inspired to learn more about recycling and garbage in Manitoba and would say that I'm a more aware consumer.

I shared with Connie my frustration with the reality that some climate conscious actions may be small and seem insignificant, or worse yet, some actions take lots of energy and attention and still don't have a huge impact. Her encouragement came to me in the form of this mantra, which she got from Kenton Lobe - "Directional Movement."

One way to empower each other is to value Directional Movement. As long as we are moving in the direction of greater care for creation, better stewardship, increased knowledge and concern for the environment and the humans that rely on it, we should be encouraging and cheering each other on. It doesn't need to be the perfect solution or the pinnacle of effectiveness to be worth doing.

And as we walk, slow or fast, we're building our stamina, experience, wisdom and passion. This is the path to becoming effective and impactful. One step at a time.

And often beginning with small steps.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Perfect vs. Good

As I contemplate taking climate action (as a lukewarm activist with good intentions) I often feel stuck because I know I can't do any of it perfectly. Apparently I'm not the first to feel this way, and was relieved to hear that it's actually a common saying or phrase; Don't let perfection be the enemy of the good. I'm relieved when I hear this because it feels like I have permission to take small steps and to encourage others along the way, even if I'm not doing it perfectly myself. I've spent plenty of years hearing a voice in my head tell me that if I'm not all-in committed and willing to change everything in my life, it's not worth doing anything at all. But that's not true. It's still worth doing something. In fact, how will I ever gain the strength and stamina and courage to do big things if I don't start with small things? And how can I start from anywhere but exactly where I am? So here I am, imperfect in many ways, but fu...
Read more

Advocacy? Time to learn!

100 years ago when I was in university there was a letter-writing party for Amnesty International .  I heard about it happening on campus and thought about going, but in the end I didn't attend.  I didn't write those letters regarding political prisoners and refugees stuck in dangerous places and human rights abuses.  I was busy growing up and thinking about me.  And probably exams, boys and other things.  I'm not going to be too hard on myself here, but as I think back, I wish I had written.  I wish I'd begun to learn about advocacy back when I was 19, rather than starting to think about it now, in my 40's.   But here I am! Taking a deep breath and thinking it's time to learn how to speak for the trees (that's a Lorax reference, in case you're wondering.) There are a few reasons why this has come to the fore for me, but the biggest one is the realisation that although it's important for me to clean up my personal act around climate, it's equal...
Read more

Do we have a shared goal?

Usually when people join forces there's a specific goal that they all share.  I've been thinking about this in terms of how I approach Climate Change and the Climate Emergency. What actually is  our goal?  Is it to: Save the Earth?  Mitigate the worst effects of Climate change? Reduce our personal footprint? Prepare to meet the humanitarian crises brought on by climate change? Lobby governments and big business? Support protesters in specific locations?  There is such a huge range of work to be done.  Like any huge project, we need people working on many different levels and at many different tasks. This brings me back to the idea of honouring and empowering every individual to use their passions, gifts and skills. Each of us can and must apply ourselves in the way that we are moved to do so.  I need to find a way to lift my own wings to the wind - a way to use my gifts and passions to uplift the cause. None of us can do it all.  Let us commit to ...
Read more