Shock and Awe

Being green has a lot of grey

photo by Jaime Kowal

Wait till you read Cori Howard’s piece, The Real Earth Mother! I don’t remember the last time I laughed so hard over a magazine story. … and do laugh, because otherwise you’d cry. Cori—a fabulous mother who writes on parenting—makes light of it, but her article shows how daunting the colossal lifestyle-shift of stepping more lightly on the planet can be (check out the mom who’s raising her baby diaper-free).

However, much of Cori’s saga highlights the fact that it could be crazy-making if you let it. But it’s not about creating the perfect lifestyle, because there is no such thing. Rather, it’s an intention executed with grace and ease. It’s that never-ending adventure of improving the quality of your life and the quality of your relationship with the Earth and everybody on it. But those who are trying the hardest often lose sight of the grace and ease.

Recently, a girlfriend who’s also a mom—one of the smartest and wisest women I know, and a specialist in B.C. environmental legal issues—was beating herself up over what she considers wrong choices: “I go to Costco because it has stuff I can afford and a variety of it. Even though I know it’s big-box and a multinational that imports from overseas, it’s something I do.”

I reminded her that Costco has one of the best records of employee relations among retailers. And from that we both re-affirmed that it’s never black and white. Being green has a lot of grey.

Above all, doesn’t the idea of celebrating your contributions rather than kicking yourself for transgressions make for affirmative self-talk? After all, both scientists and personal growth coaches tell us that thinking positive thoughts is the path to a more positive and satisfying life. So if we celebrate our proactive actions rather than deconstruct every thing we do wrong, we’re not only being kinder to ourselves but, in turn, are bound to be more patient and loving with others.

How’s This for a Gift Idea

Organ donation—would it be tacky to call this the ultimate in recycling? It strikes me that making your body useful after you’re done with it enhances the circle of life, especially to those who are in need of a heart, lung, kidney, or liver. In B.C. alone there are more than 400 people waiting for organ transplants.

This all came to my attention last month when I met Shivon Robinsong, a healthy Victoria woman and artist who decided to give one of her kidneys to her dear friend and Vancouver businessman Joel Solomon. Granted, Shivon still has a lot of living to do and will do it well with one kidney. And although not all of us care to imagine volunteering for such an assignment while living, if you’ve ruled out cryogenics, becoming an organ donor leaves a legacy of life and love. Becoming a donor can be fast and easy online at transplant.bc.ca. Even if you think you’re signed-up as an organ donor, it’s good to check as the Organ Donor Registry replaces all previous ways of indicating your wishes about organ donation (i.e. stickers on driver’s licenses or Care Cards). By the way, both Shivon and Joel are recovering nicely.

It’s all good. It’s all a SharedVISION.

In gratitude,
Rebecca