Saturday, January 24th, 2009
An interesting article about New years Resolutions in Resurgence magazine, as sent to me by my secret spy on the web (that would be my mum, then). I particularly like the last line of the following submission, and although the context of the words in this example are quite specific, it’s an attitude that feels relevant to me in many other contexts.
PAUL HAWKEN • TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES
The planet needs ten thousand acts of mercy and kindness to be saved, undertaken by hundreds of millions of people. There are legions of action lists and they are good. While we vote, organise, plant, retrofit, reduce, renew, and teach, it is good to remember that the organising principle of restoration cannot be fear. We gather and congregate around warmth, grace and generosity. If we ask ourselves why we are saving the planet, the answer is always life: our life, the life we share the planet with, and all life to come hereafter. In order to restore life, we must every day take care of our own life. It starts with our mind, heart, and body. Daily acts of personal renewal are essential to creating the conditions that are favourable to all life. In that renewal, we understand that there are no inconsequential actions, only consequential inaction.