Was it just last month when I was gloating over the cool weather here in Southern California? Well, the heat has arrived, and it’s Suddenly Shockingly Summer. I do wish there’d been more of a spring-like transition, but I’m trying hard not to complain—my friend in Las Vegas reports that his forecast calls for triple-digit temps, as high as 118 degrees. An airport in Iran recently reported a heat index of 152 Fahrenheit. July 4 was the hottest day on Planet on Earth in 125,000 years.
Yikes, is it finally time to talk about the climate CRISIS, like the actual science of it? Because pretending like it’s “just politics” doesn’t seem to be working. Grr. Does humanity lack the collective will to save itself? Sometimes I wonder. Even when I’m repeating my “small things matter” mantra and “I’m doing what I can,” it’s easy to fall into despair. Sit in the corner, suck my thumb and rock for a while.
I cling to the smallest bits of good news to keep me upright. Did you know that biodegradable bacterial cellulose could replace plastic packaging one day? I got that tidbit from the Sustainable Minimalist podcast, one that I rely on to get simple, practical advice on making eco-friendlier choices. Outrage & Optimism (“talking with change-makers turning challenges into opportunities”) is another podcast that reminds me there are greater minds at work.
Where do you turn for Good News that Matters?
Creative work is always good therapy, when I need a break from it all. I’ve never considered myself artistic, but that flow of creating, no matter the outcome, brings me fully into the Present. I like collage because I’m better at gluing than painting, and lately I’ve been exploring Nature prints., like the one here. They remind me of all the beauty that Nature supplies—and to be grateful for all the natural systems that are still working in our favor.
How are you holding up? Let me know. Email, Facebook or Instagram.
❤️🌎
Read the full July 2023 newsletter here.
