Happy Earth Day!

This is the day on which we acknowledge the amazing gift we have in this beautiful planet and take time to think about our role as stewards of the environment and the earth. We’ll hear much today about the impact we have on the planet and the things we can do to contribute to a greener, healthier, less toxic world in the future. It’s a day about raising awareness and taking action. Earth Day Canada has identified the Top Ten things we can do to make a difference for the environment http://www.earthday.ca/pub/resources/top10.php. Most of them are relatively easy changes we can make that add up to a huge difference for the planet. You’ll probably look at the list and see that you already do several. I believe that the challenge of today is to find a way to do more, to add one more action to the list of things you do for the environment. Is there something on the list you could incorporate into your life?

On January 1, 2007, I stopped using drive-thrus. I decided that I wasn’t willing to continue releasing emissions from my car as it sat waiting to get my caffeine fix. Of course it’s inconvenient sometimes but it’s a tangible thing I can do that makes a small difference. I believe that as more people refuse to leave their car idling for more that ten seconds, a significant impact will be made on the planet.

This Earth Day, I am going to switch gas companies from the old traditional kind to a company that supplies carbon-free power from emissions-free sources such as wind power and low-impact water power. http://www.bullfrogpower.com/ I’m also going to schedule an energy audit to get suggestions from a professional on how we might make our home more energy efficient.

So, what are you going to do this Earth Day?

Musings in a Coffee Shop

So here I sit in the Second Cup at 3:00 on a Monday afternoon. It’s fairly quiet here – just a couple of retirees, some people having a business meeting, staff complaining loudly about their lot in life -- and me.

The familiar voice judges: “How does a responsible business person justify sitting here drinking cappuccino in the middle of the afternoon? Do I see anyone else here lolling away the day? No. What must these people think of you?”

And then I hear the other voice. “What if being at the Second Cup is the best thing for me to be doing right now?”

The fact is that I’ve sauntered off to the Second Cup many times when I’ve been feeling frustrated, distracted or wracked with self-doubt. Despite the caffeine, it has a way of calming me and centring me so that I fade into myself in the midst of the activity. I’ve actually done some of my best strategizing in the din. And, as you can see, I’ve even started blogging as I sip my favourite brew.

What the coffee pub reminds me is that I have to honour what works best for my unique and quirky self. The combination of the indulgence and the distraction that the Second Cup offers supports me in creating some pretty neat things, so I’ll keep coming back for a long time to come.

The Power of a Sunset

One of the highlights of my recent trip to the gulf coast of Florida was the day I walked the beach at sunset. My plan had been to walk away from the sun until it was about to set, and then to watch the gorgeous colours and drama of the sunset as I walked back. But things didn’t work out like that.

When the magic moment arrived, every single person on the beach stopped what they were doing and faced the sun. There wasn’t even much chatter – they were all transfixed by the show that was taking place before them. There were hundreds of people -- teenagers with Frisbees and surfboards, kids building sand castles, adults reading novels, people dining at beach-side restaurants, walkers like myself. We all stopped what they were doing and watched the spectacle. When the golden orb slipped below the horizon, leaving gorgeous pinks, peaches and crimsons in its place, everyone applauded and cheered the amazing show – proof of the successful completion of another day.

I was so moved by that simple experience of being among a diverse group of people joining together to celebrate one of the most primal of rhythms on our planet. Their lives stopped for a few minutes as they honoured the beauty of nature and the power it has in our lives. I felt a kinship with all of these people, seeing once again that the differences we demonstrate on the outside are insignificant compared to the human connection that unites us.

It made me optimistic to think that if we can unite together to admire the blessings of this earth, we can also unite to save it.