The Four Winds of Change: Connecting the 1930s Dust Bowl & the 2020 Pandemic

A few months ago I listened to the audio book The Four Winds: A Novel by Kristin Hannah. It details the ten-year time period during the Depression and 1930s of the American Dust Bowl. Devastation hit farmers as drought and years of poor farming protocols let the topsoil to just literally go "flying in the wind." Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico all felt the ravaging devastation of this environmental crisis.

Having grown up in the Midwest, I know of those flat lands. Those farmlands. Perhaps that is why I was haunted by this book. I'm sure Kristin Hannah's powerful storytelling ability was also at play. She has a remarkable way of creating characters who rise through the resilience during hardship.

I also was struck by the similarities I noticed on the human impact of both the Dust Bowl (a major environmental issue nearly a century ago) and the COVID-19 pandemic (just 6 years ago in 2020): 

• There was economic fallout as people lost their jobs. Likewise, the ability to find and finance food was an issue due to supply and demand and availability issues, not to mention the logistical issues of transporting food. 

• Governmentally, policies needed to be shifted or newly put into place. This often came in both situations with push back and concerns.

• There were health, physical, and medical ramifications as as the air around us had the capability of making people ill. People needed to wear masks (or wet bandanas) to assist with breathing during the "black blizzards" of the Dust Bowl, just as we had to wear masks to protect ourselves from the germs of the virus in 2020. "Dust pneumonia" was a medical side effect based on the poor air quality of dust-filled air in the 1930s. Both epidemics resulted in respiratory health issues. Both epidemics resulted in thousands of people losing their lives. Both were certainly a time of a lot of stress.

• Socially, people were impacted in many ways, based on their decisions on how best to stay safe. Community gatherings couldn't happen in the same ways as before. This included schooling. Isolation was an issue. At times in both situations, people may have needed to move due to their circumstances. 

• Prejudice too was a parallel issue during both historic events: the "Okies" on the move to find work during the Depression were greatly looked down upon. Depending on your political slant during the COVID pandemic, you could get grief from friends, family, or neighbors based on how cautious you were or were not: Did you wear a mask? Did you wear it well or haphazardly? Did you scoff at the vaccine and the science that shifted as people learned more? The government leaders chose to make it a political, divisive issue, which created additional grief. 

From an agricultural sense, we have done a lot since the 1930s to farm smarter to maintain soil health over time. Purposely planting windbreaks and cover crops, promoting contour plowing, reducing over-tillage, and improving soil's water retention has made for a healthier culture of agriculture. But we can also see where if funding is reduced in any of these areas or if people use poor farming procedures, we can fall victim to Mother Nature when the rain ceases to fall. Droughts happen. Wind happens. Heat waves happen. Because of all of that, we need to be proactive with environmental policies. Climate change has significantly intensified all of that, and sadly the environment over the last decade or more has become political. 

Sitting here, nearly a century beyond the Dust Bowl, Kristin Hannah's The Four Winds reminds us that history’s lessons are never far behind. Environmental crises (whether dust storms or global pandemics) share a common truth: resilience begins when communities pull together and adapt with empathy, foresight, and innovation. Kristin Hannah's story and the insights we all gleaned in 2020 show us the importance of taking care of each other, honoring science, adapting as needed with resilience. These are some of the same essential traits we need to tackle global issues like climate change, biodiversity, food insecurity, pollution, environmental injustice and more. 

Dust Bowl, montage compiled by Vicki Dabrowka

In addition to reading Kristin Hannah's book The Four Winds: A Novel, you can learn more about the Dust Bowl here:

• Ken Burns: The Dust Bowl (PBS)
• Ducksters: Dust Bowl History
• The Dust Bowl | National Drought Mitigation Center​AAAS: Dust Bowl Wake Up Call for Environmental Practices
• Global Health Now: Covid-19 and Dust Bowl Parallels
• KidsKonnect: Dust Bowl Facts

Kristin Hannah's book cover The Four Winds from https://www.amazon.com/Four-Winds-Novel-Kristin-Hannah/dp/1250178614/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZHk86GYtgb-Hz7mRQwjXx8OAIGc0VfaIf9tRRJg7KSH5JthzBNBP98Ii1BC8ar-XMWnqYVsq2TCTQI2nYmC6-mD-i2fXx8T03JvX4wd7OOxR27a_Lbp68ftKLGfTyW_ZuHCjC0re_6JBQVDTn4_wym4nJdMj0fBhL2qlHEZfvzJikdojYCFFi4PfXUon9hNpAeXok-MJ6BqKntAtUZxMWDpTbykS5rXW31e5pF1omSA.vQXQoncK9PexFwWoI_s42GHVUSqkc10acC67DGn7d4U&qid=1770577790&sr=8-1

Video created at Canva.com using images from TimelineTheatre's Instagram carousel post from April 14, 2024 https://www.instagram.com/p/C5v6pCzrD8C/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Story of Stuff & Their Endless Pursuit on Sustainability

I've been a long time fan of The Story of Stuff Project and their many documentaries. Their very first one came out in 2007, and I've been writing about them for awhile.

They have a few new features out in their Movies page of their website. "Reuse Revolution" is fairly new, and their first movie details Okapi Coffee and it's circular economy solution to keep waste out of landfills by encouraging patrons to use reusable cups:

Go to Okapi's website to learn more about where to find participating cafes that are in their network.

I'm eager to see what else Story of Stuff comes up with for their Reuse Revolution series!

In the mean time, here are more of their educational movies you can check out.

• Their 13 video set of their "Story of ..." Movies.
• Their 6 video collection of their plastic pollution documentaries.
• Their 3 video series "Exposed" about Coca-Cola Company's attempts & advertising campaigns, all of which essentially shut down recycling their glass bottles. 
• "Burning Injustice" about incinerators in California and the toxic air pollution they create.
• Their 10 video set on plastic solutions in "Solving Plastics."
• Their set of 5 videos entitled "The World We Need" showcasing activists standing up to make a difference.
• Their 15 video collection "The Good Stuff" where they look at some pollution problems and some potential sustainable solutions that would benefit us all.
• Their 3 video set of "Water Documentaries" about clean water and bottle water sources.
• Their 11 episode series "The Shift" on the coronavirus epidemic of 2020.

With 67 video shorts (as of this writing) over the last 19 years, this is a powerhouse collection of environmental and sustability resources... all just a click away! What a bounty!

Video from https://www.storyofstuff.org/movies/reuse-revolution-coffee-without-the-waste/, image from https://www.storyofstuff.org/movies/the-reuse-revolution/

Things to Love This Valentines Day

It's Valentine's Day! Whether your heart is full with your loved ones, gal-pals for "Galentine's Day," or you are buying flowers for yourself to honor you, today is a day I hope brings you smiles. 

Here are some worldwide eco-wins to love and that are worth raising a glass of your favorite celebratory beverage to toast!

💖 A First For Clean Energy
3 cheers for renewable energy, which for the first time ever is generating more electricity globally than coal. Likewise, solar and wind power grew at record speeds in 2025. Love that it's no longer a hypothetical wish for the future, but a future that is happening and edging out fossil fuels and coal.​ 

💖 Cities and States Are Trendsetting Energy Leaders
What's not to love about states like Connecticut, Maine, and New York who are passing laws to speed up their push toward 100% clean energy timelines. This investment in climate solution will push toward expanding transit and lowering bills. Fun fact: Chicago's Midway & O'Hare airports and a large number of other city buildings are now powered entirely by clean energy. ​​

💖 Wildlife Comebacks For the Win
Once thought to be extinct, the black lion tamarin of Brazil is now counting at about1,800 tamerin-strong. Community-driven conservation and habitat restoration are to thank for that. Communities like the Sri Lanka Centra Highlands are putting in wildlife corridors which are helping to reconnect the leopards to their habitats as communities grow around them but with them in mind! New protections for the penguins in Patagonia are helping to protect their numbers and breeding potentials.​​​

💖 Rewilding Is On the Upswing
​Rewilding is when you let land and nature have the time and space it needs to heal from overusing the land. This is happening in Zimbabwe's Zambezi region where thousands of animals are being moved to enhance the health and biodiversity of their habitat and ecosystem. Another example is in Europe's Rhodope Mountains where animals such as red and fallow deer, wild horses, and European bison are reintroduced in order to create natural grazing and predator-prey relationships. The same is true with Argentina's Iberá Wetlands where locally-extinct specials like giant anteaters, pampas deer, and jaguars, were brough back to help the ecosystem 

💖 Communities Are Leading
Grassroots movements in many locations are working to make a difference to try to reverse harmful policies. Case and point: throughout Latin America, local communities worked to help conserve bird habitat across hundreds of protected areas. Other projects across the Amazon are being community-driven to protect millions of acres of forest. 

💖 Climate Education Is On the Rise
Let's toast states like Oregon, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, California, and Illinois who are now incorporating climate and sustainability education in their K-12 public schools. Maryland has long had their growing network of certified Green School who are putting environmental education central to their curriculum. We build environmental stewards by weaving climate literacy into everyday life.​

💖 Policy in Action
Environmental policies are starting to show up in many places, really starting to make a positive difference. New congestion pricing in New York City means that vehicles pay a fee to enter the busiest parts of town during peak times. That helps make transit choices will reduce both traffic and vehicular pollution while also having that charged fee go to improving public transit. In other places, climate task forces are creating plans to help mitigate flood or drought risks, tackle heat waves or fire risks, open cooling centers when needed, or providing business incentives for affordable and efficient heat pumps, insulation, or solar panels. Bringing healthier and more affordable solutions is always worth a toast!

💖  💖  💖

So as you celebrate love this year, make sure it's not just about who we love, but how we love the world we live in. Take notice of where we are healing both as people and as a planet. Cheering on not only what's winning in our own life and the things/people we love, but also those on a larger scale. All things flourish that we shower with love!

Control Alt Achieve's Public NotebookLM with AI Policies, Guidelines and Frameworks

Eric Curts from Control Alt Achieve is one of my go-to edtech gurus. Not only is Control Alt Achieve an amazing resource for teachers, he was a dynamic speaker at FETC last year and one of my favorite follows. 

Eric had a recent post entitled Public NotebookLM with AI Policies, Guidelines, & Frameworks from January 20th, 2026. NotebookLM is an amazing tool for using AI to synthesize information. I learned about it last year at the 2025 FETC: The Future of Educational Technology Conference. It's known as a "thinking partner" where you are upload your own documents to use as your data set and you can interact directly with your own set of sources. You can learn more about NotebookLM here.

With his post, Eric included 40 resources (at this time of writing) in his AI Public NotebookLM. Additionaly, he has provided public access to that digital collection. Once inside this NotebookLM, you you can interview the resources through AI to answer specific AI-related edtech questions you may have based on your specific AI-centric goals or guidelines you'd like to create. He's included some of the Studio features of NotebookLM, including an informative podcast created to detail the givven information.

Be sure to click this link to get to his Public NotebookLM with AI Policies, Guidelines and Frameworks. Here you will get his details post that includes the link to get you to this robust resource. You can then ask your own questions and create your own tools to help create what you need for your own school or district. 

I know AI can still be so scary to people out there, but there are so many features about it that can really help you ramp up your productivity. Every teacher out there knows the saying "teach harder, not smarter." This is a classic example of using the tools that are there to help you level up and do just that, maximizing your time in the smartest way possible. Eric's post and public NotebookLM are great for doing just that!

Image from https://www.controlaltachieve.com/2026/01/notebooklm-ai-guidance.html

Google Takeout for Graduating Seniors & Moving Teachers

Moving schools (either as a graduating student or a teacher moving on to another school) comes with a lot. Especially if you are a Google School and you have created a lot of digital files.

I've fallen victim to this: realizing too late that my email/Google Drive was ending sooner than I thought and lost files. This happened to me when Eagle Cove closed down. Realizing a little too late that part of the packing includes those digital files and creations I made along the way! 

For that reason, I got pretty excited when I saw Chromebook Classroom's Facebook post about "Google Takeout" for graduating seniors (and leaving teachers) being able to transfer school documents to a personal account.

This video from John Sowash walks you through how to do it. (Note: As he details in the video, it can take a week or so to process the transfer....so definitely pay attention to timing!)

Video from https://youtu.be/LVF-qyRoKeQ?si=WgpFn1uSRayp3eEK and image created at Canva.com

The Gift of Snow

Waking up to the Wintery Wonderland is always a gift. The world of white abounds and surrounds. And it is still coming down.

I've seen reports of both 35 states being affected, and also ones saying that half the US being under snow storm forecasts for this weekend. That's a lot of people facing a lot of snow. At this writing Sunday morning, the federal government is already closed, but I'm awaiting our county's school district decision. I'm not too worried. 

The pace of life just seems to change when the blizzardarious conditions head your way. You stock up. You settle in. You hunker down. You bundle up and head out to explore--OR--you snuggle in and get toasty in front of a fire or under a blanket. Expectations change and it's all cozy and comfort food and time slows down. Some of it is the novelty and unexpected variety to your normal days, and some of it is just the inability to go anywhere because you are closed in with that blanket of snow and the plows not yet making their way to you. It is a gift. The gift of time.

With my gift, I see books being read. Blog posts being written. Shows being watched. Naps maybe being taken. Soup being made. Maybe a load or two of laundry getting tackled, or even a scary clutter corner or two. But the bar is low, as are the expectations. It's a rather cozy gift indeed....as long as the power stays on! 😉 

How are you going to spend your gift of time and your gift of snow?

Weather map from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/snow-storm-forecast-maps-winter-weather/; banner image created at Canva.com with my snow photos.

Squirrel Appreciation Day: Annually January 21st

One could argue that there is a "day" for everything. They just may be right. This week ahead (and annually), mark your calendar: Squirrel Appreciation Day: January 21st!

This annual environmental day was created in 2001 by Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabilitator from Asheville, North Carolina. 

The reason? She wanted to honor these little scampering scurriers who have a harder time in the winter landing on their next food source.

To appreciate our little furry neighborhood buddies, I used this National Wildlife Federation blog post for inspiration to write this "Squirrel" Acrostic! You can always click that link to learn more!

Scampering about our parks, cities, suburbs, and wooded areas,

Quietly going about your business in our backyards...

Under trees, then up in the branches you go on your quests,

In search of your next snack with those seeds and nuts that fall about.

Routinely one of our wildest mammals we see,

Raiding our bird feeders just a little too often.

Energy-crazed and zipping about, revving up our watching dogs,

Letting us all watch, these furry acrobatic squirrels bounding about.

And here's a little National Park Service social media I ran across about a year and a half ago that I tucked away, for this very day! Hope it makes you chuckle!

For the "Learn more" link above, click here to find out more at the National Park Service.

Social Media screenshot from National Park Service: https://www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice/posts/pfbid0aswwaxzHEzJW5u3iXcyqaYHSboKX5ZK7oDABJ19UBGSha9qLBVzA5GWb1CDZGSj5l; Photo from my back yard, Squirrel Appreciation Day image created at Canva.com

What Was Lost Is Now Found

If you read my last post, you saw reference to my title above. It falls in the category of "A funny thing happened on the way to writing my next GTG blog post."

You know that feeling of déjà vu you get when you've done something before, but you go back to where you did it and there is absolutely no sign you've done it? But you know you did itA You are absolutely, certainly, 100% positive. Maybe it's akin to trying to find a now-lost item, or it's you, retracing your steps in a not-so-successful way.

That was me this weekend. I came to write my next blog post and was like: "Wait a minute!?! It's gone?!? My last post is gone! I wrote it last weekend, it was here, and now it's gone." Serious disappearing act. It starts to give you a distinct "I'm losing my mind" sensation. I've not been getting a lot of sleep lately, but could I legitimately have been so brainfogged that I dreamed I wrote about SpoGomi? That's a random dream!!

I looked everywhere--drafts, trash, did I post it on another date, is it hiding in my website history? Nope! No where to be found. I have absolutely no clue what I did, but into thin air that post went. Brain cells, blood, sweat, tears--gone! Perhaps that's a smidge dramatic, but I did NOT want to reinvent the wheel and spend the time rewriting the whole thing. Anyone who grew up in the late 1980s & 1990s who has ever lost a paper due to lack of saving it (before the excellent era of auto-save we all live in now), knows of this excruciating pain.

So I did what is becoming the natural new step in this modern-day life--I took it to the wonderful world of AI and asked if it could help. 

My AI of choice in this scenario was Gemini--figuring I'd score the best there since GTG is housed on Blogger, a Google product. When in the Googlesphere, let's stay in the Googlesphere, I thought. 

Well, guess what?! Gemini saved the day! I can't tell you how relieved I was when (after a couple queries back and forth) it popped out this:

I appreciated the confirmation both mentally and emotionally from Gemini that my mind was indeed intact. *Insert BIG sigh of relief here.*

But it really leveled up to me the power of AI. This was an amazing use of it for me! Recently a person dear to me passed and their executor went to AI to compile a list of things an executor needs to do for a person and their accounts--presto, quicko: an 11-point checklist of solid points spit out. Another good friend ran a series of AI exchanges in the form of a mock interview to prepare for a job interview coming up. Brilliant! Sharpening and leveling up resumes? Another amazing use. I've personally planned trips, designed flavor-compatible dinner companion sides and deserts, and created classroom curriculum and interactive games....among other things, all using AI. The scope of it's productivity and assistance in taking us to the next level is endless.

One of the things I always tell my elementary students is that our role in lives--as students, as people, as citizens of the world--is to be problem solvers. So here is an amazing tool that took what was lost in cyberspace and now it is found. Thank you, AI. Thank you for helping me solve my problems! Thank you for opening my eye to how endless the scope truly is!

Image created on Canva.com and the other one a screenshot from my exchange with Gemini.google.com

Starting the New Year On the Right Foot

(What was once lost is now found....more on that in my next post!)

It's a new year, and if you are like me, you like to "feel the fresh." Ergo...a "feel good" story was just what the doctor ordered for this kid! If you are looking for a new year's resolution or a way to make a difference this year, perhaps SpoGomi is for you.

Interestingly enough, it's not a new concept (though it felt new to me), and it's actually something I've written about before but with another name: plogging or plalking. If you are like most people, this is a new term for you. Basically, it's Swedish for "p"icking up "l"itter while you are jogging (plogging) or walking (plalking). Both have become quite popular over the past decade.

SpoGomi, on the other hand, is a bit more of a "sport," and it stands for "Sport Gomi" ("gomi" is Japanese for "trash"). It becomes it's own competitive level sport where  teams of three people compete to pick up the most trash in a set amount of time. There is even a World Cup for SpoGomi!

I think this is a great way to get people involved in cleaning up their communities. It's fun, it's competitive, and it makes a real difference. Maybe neighborhood SpoGomi is what we need! Who's with me?

Check out this poster I made (with a little help from AI) to show the basic rules!

 

The rules are simple:

1. Teams of 3: You need a team to compete... and you need to compete against a team.

2. Set the time: You have a set amount of time to pick up as much trash as you can.

3. Define a specific area: You have to stay within a certain area.

4. Types of trash: Different types of trash are worth different points. Cigarette butts are usually worth the most!

5. No sorting: You don't have to sort the trash, but you do have to pick it up safely. So take steps and wear safety equipment/gloves as needed.

What a great way to start the new year on the right foot. It's a small thing, but it can make a big difference. Let me know in the comments if you've ever heard of SpoGomi or if you'd be interested in starting a team!

Happy New Year, everyone! Let's make 2026 the cleanest year yet!

Images from https://www.facebook.com/1MillionWomen/posts/pfbid02HwVmLdpmMom5GSrYjxEs1W8Gfu76XWNwJcgHXhTcWvj6yZofZBjS7LNS8Ja8PsLvl and Spogomi Rules Infographic created using Perplexity.AI (and corrected in at least 4 places for spelling through my computer's editing tools--showing that it's always necessary to edit those AI requests carefully!!)

Cheers to the New Year: 2026

Cheers to 2026. May your year begin with a fresh start, and may it come with new adventures, good health, abundant joy, satisfaction and success, more good times than bad, and many memorable moments. 

Warm Hearts & Fresh Starts: A Top 10 List To Wrap Up One Year & Lean Into the Next

A lot of people have an extended break or take extra time off while visiting family over the holidays. That week sandwiched between Christmas and New Years might leave you finding yourself reflective with a bit of extra down time during the holiday. If that's the case, here's a Top 10 list ideas to help you wrap up your year. May it help you ring in the new by finding a merry mix of innovation, nature, sustainability, and creativity to get you living in the moment and making some extra holiday memories as you lean into the new year ahead.

1. Tech-Boosted Wildlife Bingo Walk

Hit the trail with apps like Seek by iNaturalist or Merlin Bird ID or Google Lens and then make a game of winter wildlife spotting. Hot cocoa or movie choice for the Bingo winner!!

2. Unplugged Board Game Bash

Declare one night a phone-free zone. Dust off your Scrabble board, grab the Chutes & Ladders or Candyland, deal out the UNO cards, go for a Yahtzee, or find a new found favorite (maybe one that was recently unwrapped during the holidays), or invent your own!

3. Schedule Your Eco-Resolution Reminders

Program recurring “green prompts” into your own or your family's shared digital calendar (whether that's Google Calendar, Outlook, Apple, or more)—for monthly nature walks, tech-free afternoons, or local volunteering.

4. ABC Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

Enjoy the fresh air while getting a little exercise, hunting out alphabetical finds as you go. Maybe a snow Angel, Boots, Chimney, Dogs and/or Decorations, Evergreen....

5. Gratitude Graffiti

Cover your fridge, a hallway, or one window in sticky notes with little things that brought you joy this year: holiday memories, summer vacations, fun times with friends, popcorn and movie night, beautiful moonlit nights, roasting marshmallows with family or friends.... OR, turn it digital by creating a photo collage or movie of video clips of these sentiments along with photographic proof of the good memories and grateful moments of the year.

6. Green Garland Challenge
Make a winter garland from foraged pinecones, popcorn, leaves, or scraps, then hang it outside for birds to enjoy. The Audobon Society has some great ideas on just how to make some sweet treats for your backyard on their website.

7. Digital Declutter Dash

Grab your phone, iPad, or computer & set our timer for 15 minutes. Ready, set, go: who can clear the most emails or delete the most blurry holiday photos in 15 minutes. Celebrate by putting on some good music and moving, grooving, and doing a happy dance & getting your moves on!

8. Silent Star-lit Night
Take a moment to be in the moment. Bundle up to take a nighttime walk. Spot constellations, listen for the sounds of silence or the city under the streetlights, reflect and reminisce together or go solo. No need for devices, just take in the awe of the night.

9. Curate Kindness
Use your own brainstorming (and bring in your favorite AI platform if you need to) to generate personalized ideas for small acts of kindness you can sprinkle on friends, families, neighbors, and co-workers. Then put them into action, like a secret agent kindness mission. It's a great gift that keeps giving.

10. Digital Dream Board for 2026
Build a solo or shared vision board on Padlet or Canva that collects inspiring eco-quotes, dream destinations, nature wishes, family-personal-or-sustainability goals for the year ahead.

Whatever you do (from this list or from your own imagination), I hope the roll from 2025 to 2026 fills you with both reflection of the past and a ready spirit for what's ahead. 

Image created at Canva.com.

A Month of Merries, Happies, and Best Wishes This Week.

Based on the last post, we know there's a multitude of cultural celebrations this month... many of which happened this last week alone. No matter which one you celebrate, may your heart be full while you create memories that hopefully will last you a lifetime. Sending you...

Merries... Happies.... Cheers.... Best Wishes.... Chag Sameach... ¡Feliz Las Posadas!...

May your homes be filled with many blessings...

Lots of love, peace, and happiness...

Image created at Canva.com

A Month of Holidays

Following up on my last post, I felt like it was good to mark our calendars. December is known by many as the month of Christmas and Hanukkah. But it's a month of much more than that when it comes to the many global, cultural, religious, and heart-centered holidays. 

In this season of giving, sharing, caring, and peace, it's good to know how full this season is for all. Click here for a bigger version.

Here are some brief snippets about some of the holidays that may be lesser known:

❄️ St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 6th): Historically from the legend of bishop St. Nicholas, children in parts of Europe leave out shoes or boots to be filled with small gifts and treats, reminding families of secret kindness and the origins of Santa Claus.

❄️ Bodhi Day (Dec. 8): Celebrated by Buddhists worldwide, Bodhi Day honors the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama under the Bodhi tree, and is a day of meditation, study, and acts of kindness.

❄️ St. Lucia Day (Dec. 13): Especially popular in Sweden and Scandinavia, St. Lucia Day features processions of children dressed in white with wreaths atop their head, the singing of songs, and the sharing of baked goods, symbolizing hope and light in the darkest time of year.

❄️ Las Posadas (Dec. 16th-24th): Celebrated by Catholic, Mexico and Latin Americans, this holiday re-enacts the journey of Mary and Joseph, with nightly processions and communal hospitality reflecting unity and compassion.

❄️ Yule (a Pagan-Wiccan holiday) and Winter Solstice (Dec. 21st): Marking the shortest day of the sun in the Northern Hemisphere, and the return of the sun, with festivals of light, reflection, and hope for new beginnings.

❄️ Pancha Ganapati (Dec. 21st -- 25th): A five-day Hindu festival of family harmony, forgiveness, and renewal centered on Lord Ganesha.

❄️ Festivus (Dec. 23rd): Popularized by the show "Seinfeld," Festivus is a lighthearted, secular holiday that features quirky traditions like the "Airing of Grievances" and feats of strength. 

❄️ Jólabókaflóð (Dec. 24th): An Icelandic tradition that celebrates love and togetherness by exchanging books and reading with family.

❄️ Boxing Day (Dec. 26th): Traditionally celebrated in the UK, Canada, and Australia, Boxing Day began as a time to give gifts or charity to service workers and those in need, and today it’s most often marked by shopping, community donations, and sporting events.

❄️ Kwanzaa (Dec. 26th-31st): A celebration of African heritage, unity, creativity, and collective hope for a better world.

❄️ Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday (Dec. 28th) A Sikh celebration honoring the Sikh leader’s teachings of equality, service, and peace.

❄️ Omisoka (Dec. 31st): Japanese New Year’s Eve, which is focused on family, home cleansing, sharing meals, and peaceful beginnings.

Calendar created at Canva.com.

Global Green Holiday Rituals

With the holidays upon us, a lot of global holidays have built-in green rituals. Cultures worldwide can inspire us to find our own new holiday traditions with a festive flair of sustainability. Maybe you can weave one of these into your seasonal holidays this year.

German Christian markets, known as Weihnachtsmärkte, have both a lively, festive atmosphere and a focus on local handicrafts. Homemade gifts are the center of sustainability with their wooden ornaments, beeswax candles, and repurposed crafts all made by local artisans. This tradition encourages shoppers to buy items that last, support the community, and reduce commercialized packaging and transportation waste. Plus, the market stalls, lights, music, and camaraderie build up a social, community vibe.

If you found yourself in Finland on Christmas eve, you'd find yourself in the middle of a warm and toasty wood-fired sauna tradition! The heating of the sauna, bringing in natural birch branches, and focusing on the peace that comes from within. Family gather together feasts of local food helps cherish the joy of simplicity, the connection of families with nature, and the peach of the season.

"Down Under" in Australia and across southern Africa, December means summer. Given the seasonal warmth, families come outdoors to host festive gatherings and picnics. Fresh, local produce is at the center of these. Additionally, many folks add traditions such as kplanting native trees or organizing beach clean ups. What a wonderful way to combine celebrations, stewardship, and joy... nurturing nature along the way.

The Japanese custom of furoshiki transforms gift-giving into a creative art. Instead of using paper or plastic to wrap gifts, beautiful cloth is used to elegantly wrap presents. This is at the height of recycling and reusing materials, significantly cutting down waste. It is a delightful way to wrap a gift in love... for both the recipient and the planet!

Scottish Hagmanay traditions mark the New Year with renewal-centered rituals. The families "redd" their homes, meaning they thoroughly clean them out. This extends to local parks & waterways to community clean ups, symbollizing the fresh start to both their home & environment. Likewise, many Native American Winter Solstice ceremonies give thanks to the earth & harvest, over shared meals & planting trees.

From European cities to Asian villages, lantern and light festivals highlight the return of longer days. Handmade lanterns and candles fill the streeets. The bounty of light serves as metaphors for hope, environmental renewal, and community togetherness. Lanterns are often made of recycled or natural materials and occasionally use reusable lights. Community clean-ups also mark the festival of lights.

In this commemoration of global rituals, one thing stands out: celebration and conservation can go hand in hand. Whether it’s supporting local artisans, decorating with natural items, working together as a community to take part in a clean up, or living life with a simpler approach... joy and sustainability serve each other beautifully. 

What lessons can you take from these traditions this year?

All images created in Canva.com.

Redefining Holiday Gifting: Making It Merry & Light

This is a piggyback post to my last one. While thinking about ways to be more smart and sustainable in our shopping approach, maybe it's time to consider what it is we are shopping for. 

I believe it's an important distinction to realize we are shopping for our loved ones, not "shopping for Christmas," "shopping to get done with shopping," "shopping to get the best gifts ever," or "shopping to keep up with Aunt Sue or Uncle Joe." 

We are shopping for our loved ones: to bring them joy, to show we care, to make them smile with delight because we know them. We know what makes them tick and makes their heart sing.

Unless we are a bazillionaires, our wallets need some consideration. So do our homes. The sentiment should be the sweetness and love of the season, not just of buying the shiniest, fanciest, most expensive thing on the list. Money ≠ love. There's no point if a week after gift giving season, the gift lays there collecting dust, in our house over-stuffed with stuff, while our wallets-credit cards-banks are over-strapped without cash.

Maybe making it a season centered around meaning and connection is just what you need this year--a year for some that's been hard economically. Here are some "merry & light" gifts to consider:

• Focus on Experiences Over Stuff: Create gifts of adventure by gifting classes (local or online), museum memberships, nature hikes, streamed concerts, or shared outings that create memories rather than clutter. Get creative by crafting an at-home “movie marathon” day, a kitchen cooking crazy day or gourmet event, an at home craft day make-a-thon, self-created scavenger hunts, or and indoor camping adventure. Creative coupons, countdown calendars, and mystery envelopes to reveal these future extravaganzas can even inspire kids to grab the magic and excitement in the novelty and togetherness of a planned day ahead. Think of all the ways you can creatively spark excitement and spread the magic in these gifts. 

• DIY and Upcycled Gifts: Encourage handmade presents by way of baked goods, knitted scarves, crafted ornaments, or scrapbooks of memorable moments. This is a great way to get creative using reclaimed or natural materials.

• Zero-Waste Products: Use some of the links from the last post to search out beauty, wellness, or kitchen goods with packaging made from compostable or recycled items. A gift that can keep giving could come from an eco-conscious brands that offers refillable or package-free options.

• Digital Gifts: We live in a digital world. Opt for e-books, audio books, or digital subscriptions. These gifts require no shipping and work with what your loved ones already have.

• Swap or Secondhand Celebrations: Organize a “give what you have” exchanges or a regifting party. I'm sure you have some great barely-used items in your closet, drawers, or basements that someone else would love. Lighten your load and makes someone's day. You can also take advantage of online tools like Bunz, Freecycle, or Facebook "Buy Nothing" groups to share-forward your items in search of something else.

• Donation Gifts & Gifts That Give Back: Give a charitable donation in your recipient's name. Make it a gift that pays it forward. These companies include a small gift for the recipient that accompanies the larger gift of the donation.

💠 World Wildlife Fund​

💠 Women for Women International ​

💠 Best Friends Animal Society​

💠 Heifer International​

💠 World Vision 

💠 Because International (with the mission to alleviate poverty)

💠 St. Jude Gift Shop

The benefits of going "merry & light" are many:

💝 The environmental payoff is significant through less packaging, landfill waste, and shipping costs and emissions. You can support local artisans and green businesses.

💝 Emotionally, you can land on a deeper sense of gratitude and meaning in the season. Likewise, it can lead to less stress and stronger bonds--things that last longer than the momentary excitement of the latest, greatest, bright & shiny, pricy gizmo.​

💝 Perhaps it builds new traditions in your family, having you craft "Santa Workshop" weekends, candlelight storytime, treasure hunts, baking for neighbors and loved ones, making pinecone bird feeders for your backyard friends. Think of the memories made by these! Plus, think of the warmth that comes from giving sustainable gifts of stewardship and family togetherness...and the gift on no over-spending anxiety when it comes to January's bills!

💝 Showcase the magic in less by wrapped gifts with extra flair, written clues, or puns and poetry. Make the presentation part of the surprise to make your gift unforgettable.

Downsizing doesn't have to be a downer. Lightening the load might also lighten our spirits. The magic isn't lost, but it is what you make it. It's a shift in perspective and discovering your own ways to make the season shine. THAT is the true gift for your people.

Images created using canva.com
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Online Holiday Helpers for Sustainable Shopping

The shopping season is upon us. Anyone who has been around awhile knows I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Christmas. I was shopping a few weeks ago for some Thanksgiving table decor since we hosted Turkey Day at our house and I swear: Christmas ate Thanksgiving mid November. Probably before. It nearly gave me hives walking into the Christmas explosion within the stores. It threw me back a bit to this scene from one of the many Charlie Brown movies:

I think as we ease from one actual holiday to the next season--and actually being more in the moment of where we actually are--I usually get into the groove. Though I will say, the consumerism, expense, throw-away culture, and the hurry-scurry does get me a tad mental and moody. I don't want to be a Grinch, but sometimes I get sucked into that vortex of overwhelm as it counters the mood and mindset of simpler and less.

So I started pondering and researching some more sustainable choices. In this techno-era, why not utilize online tools to be our own little Santa's elves and holiday helpers to give way to sustainable shopping options. Shop smarter not harder--which truthfully, this is not just a December holiday thing, but an every day assistance. (And yes, I did use a little bit of AI and online tools to help me craft THIS list.)

Harnessing Online Tools for Greener Gifting:

• Giftster: Here you can curate wish lists and share out with family members. I've used this for years. It's great if you are shopping for extended family and everyone gets on board as members can include lists of interests, hobbies, sizes and more. There's also a Secret Santa element in it too for gift exchanges. Gifster has both an app and browser extension too. While this is not necessarily "greener" per se, it may help you streamline your shopping conundrums.

• Good On You: This site uses AI-driven rating system for fashion brands, which allows users to build gift lists with verified ethical and sustainable options.

• Ecosia Browser Shopping Extension: This add-on uses algorithms to highlight eco-friendly vendors and suggest low-impact gifts as users browse shopping sites. Users can filter by eco-certification, carbon offset, and more.

• Giftology Corporate Platform: This site incorporates AI and automation for companies to select sustainable, personalized gifts. This is perfect if you have a want or need to buy in bulk for clients or employees,

• GreenChoice: This is an AI grocery and product suggestion app/website which helps users build zero-waste lists centered around environmental and health concerns.

• The Ethical Shopper: This website helps users find products (especially beauty, home, and personal care items) that are 100% vegan and cruelty-free, with heavy support to brands that are environmentally transparent. 

• Even mainline shopping search engines like Google Shopping & Bing have filters for "sustainable,""eco," or "ethically made so you can narrow your search to your preferences on packaging, recycled materials, low waste shipping, and more.

Other Things to Consider:

• Utilize your smart phone tools by automating reminders within your calendar. Notifications centered around exclusive deals could help get you what you are looking for right when it comes out, putting you in a position of not missing out on items that sell out quickly.

• Focus on experiences instead of things. Tickets to a show or event, shared together builds community, cherished memories, and time together. Likewise, it reduces waste and clutter for those people who seemingly need nothing and serves as a "leave no trace" gift. 

• Always double check any “green” claims. "Greenwashing" is definitely "a thing" and many companies use false or loose advertising to draw you in. It's always good to really do your research--especially if you are using AI to help you out!

As you are entering this holiday season, take advantage of the tools around you. Look for ways to simplify your life so that you can truly enjoy the reason of the season and your time with family and friends. In doing so, may it help you shop with your values in mind and help you feel lighter, smarter, and more joyful this holiday season! 

Charlie Brown image screenshot from ​https://youtu.be/oyUcHxY6aJY?si=ZeVYKX-0cKeZdnws, Other image created in Canva.com

Happy Thanksgiving 2025

This Thanksgiving, I'm sending you a prayer, an ode, an invocation, or a message of gratitude (whatever you would like to call it). I hope speaks to your heart and to the heart and meaning of this holiday.

Thanksgiving Commemoration 2025 by Vicki Dabrowka

Thanksgiving: The Ripple Effect & Circle Effect of the Season

Years ago, I had an incredibly small class--all boys--at a school I dearly loved. The school had water around 2 sides of the property, right on the Magothy River. I have a strong memory of a specific lesson that year where we went to the water, throwing stones in, watching our circles while discussing the importance of how our actions ripple out, often not knowing where our impact will go or end.

When I looked back (in an archival fashion) to see when I wrote about the pebble, the water, and the ripple effect, I was struck with the irony of it being Thanksgiving 2015--a decade ago. Maybe it was embedded on my brain... or perhaps it's just the cyclical nature of life:

The circles that grow from a pebble being thrown in the water...

The circle of family that gathers around the Thanksgiving dining room table...

The circle of hands that unite when coming together in union and thanks.

The circle of community that encompasses us--especially during holiday and hard times.

The circle of love that comes from a heartfelt hug or embrace.

The circle that leads toward sustainability.

Nature loves a circle. 

It all is like the ripple effect, and Thanksgiving certainly has its own. 

​​

Thanks, gratitude, and appreciation encircle us this time of year. It is from here we can pay forward the sentiment of the seasonal holiday by giving our thanks: to each other, to our faith, to our communities, to our surrounding environment and world. We can give the gift of thanks to nature by way of picking up litter, cleaning up our neighborhoods and parks, weeding gardens, plantings trees, donating food or time, or helping where needed. These "Acts of Thanks" not only can lift our spirits, but provide us with a sense of purpose, encircling us with gratitude and a sense of responsibility to others and our planet.

This gift keeps giving. It is the ripple effect. And it's a powerful gift that fills us with a greater connection to what surrounds us while simultaneously building unity and community.

It also reminds us that small acts such as these have a ​cumulative, heartwarming impact. Which begs the question: what small thing can you do to show your gratitude for the world around you?

So whether you celebrate Thanksgiving, "Friendsgiving," harvest, or something else, may this season fill you with appreciation and generosity. May it circle around you, spiraling forward and toward positive action--nurturing you, your loved ones, and the nature around you to help make the world a better place. You never know where your impact may end.

Image from https://www.vecteezy.com/photo/68594061-ripples-of-autumn-leaves-in-warm-golden-waters and https://stockcake.com/i/autumn-leaf-reflection_461084_76099 and banner image created at www.canva.com