LEGO: Build the Change

I love LEGOs....for a myriad of reasons. The fact that they are fun is only one. LEGOs inspires: 

• Innovation. (See here and here.)
• Creativity. (See here and here and here.)
• Environmental Stewardship in its company's commitment to our planet & sustainability. (See here and here.)

Here, is LEGO's latest sustainable & environmental initiative: Build the Change. Given the wisdom that comes from kids through their own imagination and play, Lego is giving kids a voice to create then upload their images to their gallery to serve as inspiration to world leaders. 

LEGO's Build the Change 2 directed challenges on their website are to build a koala wildfire sanctuary (to bring an awareness to the dangers of the Australian wildfires) and to build a seahorse safe haven (to showcase the importance of tackling oceanic pollution).

They also have links to Build the Change Courses for lesson plans for teachers. The downloads are free and only require creating an account to use. At this writing (and it looks as though more will be added), their focus is on the following 3 courses for ages 7-12 year olds:

• Human Impact: Saving Today's Dinosaurs [aka: Birds]
• A Future Without Waste
• Biodiversity and Climate Change

Additionally, at the LEGO Build the Change website, there is a link to "Children Call for Action on Climate Change." During the COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, 6000+ kids shared their ideas with policy makers via the LEGO Group in order to help make an impact for change. Through this, "Building Instructions for a Better World" was created. Here's a video introducing it: 

"Building Instructions for a Better World" is a downloadable 20-page building instructions and environmental information guide. It highlights simple LEGO builds that shows the importance of what is needed: 

It's time to. put environmental action on the table, and there is no reason kids cannot lead the way. May LEGO and kids serve as the inspiration for all of us grownups to become changemakers!

Images from https://www.lego.com/en-us/sustainability/children/build-the-change/, page 3 of https://www.lego.com/cdn/cs/sustainability/assets/bltf2371904d4a29ab5/93895_727_COP26_A5_compressed.pdf, videos from https://youtu.be/7GYEYBL67S8 and https://youtu.be/D7z8iXqjIkE

One Green Thing: Find Out Your Service Superpower

As a teenager, I was always a fan for a good magazine quiz to determine your shape face, the Disney character you are most like, what your best friendship traits are, what movie protagonist would you be, etc. These days, Buzzfeed (or a slew of other platforms) can serve it up to you digitally. 

Now with Heather White's help, you can do that to find your "Service Superpower" to see where you best fit in helping take climate action. Heather White is author of the blog One Green Thing: Saving Our Sanity + The Planet and the book One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Save the Planet.

She has crafted an online assessment to help you determine which of the 7 "service superpowers" you are. Are you a Sage, Spark, Wonk, Adventurer, Beacon, Philanthropist, or Influencer? Click this link to take the quiz to find out.

Her rationale in creating the assessment is that by defining and deciding who you innately are, it will help to squash the eco-anxiety that many of us are facing. We become paralyzed by fear and overwhelmed. When that happens (upon hearing all the doom and gloom), then we find our selves stuck in a quagmire of inaction.

By determining your "service superpower" you "create a daily intention of action."

Here's a video of Heather speaking out about how her daughter served as her inspiration to research eco-anxiety and write the book and build her brand. She hopes that her approach and the assessment bring joy and a changed perspective to a subject that really stresses out a lot of people. Additionally, she hopes that by finding then using your service superpower, you can be catapulted, step by step, one green thing a day, to help combat the climate crisis and create a better world. 

And, since my superpower is a Wonk, I'll share in a later post some of my favorite take aways from the book!

Image screen shot from https://www.onegreenthing.org/profilesoverview; logo from https://www.onegreenthing.org, and Video from https://youtu.be/mCCmEt1P4UA

Data Privacy Week: January 22--28, 2023

It is no secret that the privacy of our data is becoming increasingly important. Scammers and hackers continue to get more sophisticated, as do businesses when it comes to mining us for information. We, as digital consumers, also are becoming increasingly at risk.

Given that, Data Privacy Day and Week are dates we should have on our calendar:

• Data Privacy Day: January 28, 2023
• Data Privacy Week: January 22-28, 2023

In 1981, an introductory, international treaty regarding data privacy and protection was formed. From there, a the internet and information grew, Data Protection Day was created on April 26, 2006 with the first observance seen to be January 28, 2007. In 2022, the one-day holiday grew to a week long educational campaign to help us acknowledge and manage the trail of breadcrumbs we are leaving online. Since the pandemic, where our computers turned into our classrooms, kids are being exposed to a greater digital risk--making it even more important to broaden the awareness about how to protect and secure our personal data.

Great activities to do during Data Privacy Week:

• Change your passwords, making them unique and not overused between websites. (I know! It's hard to remember them all!) This should be something you do every few months, as data leaks are not unique or novel.
• Broaden your awareness of which websites have your personal information.
• Know what your privacy settings are on your accounts--especially social media ones.
• Look into how companies collect and use their user data. 
• Read the Terms of Service & Privacy Agreements rather than rapidly scrolling through and accepting them blindly.
• Recognize that it is always better "to be safe than sorry"...especially online.
• Advocate for national laws that promote cyber security.
• Be vigilantly aware of the potentials for scams and phishing attempts.

To learn more about Data Privacy Week and to get ideas about how you can keep your information safe, check out: 

• National CyberSecurity Alliance's website and "How to Get Involved in Data Privacy Week 2023"
• National Today's Data Privacy Week information page.
• Common Sene Media's report: "Privacy Matters: Protecting Digital Privacy for Parents and Kids"

Lastly, as a way to wrap it up and musically make the importance of data privacy hit home, check out this Data Privacy Day rap created by MOSTLY AI.

 

Images from https://staysafeonline.org/resources/how-to-get-involved-in-data-privacy-week-2023/

and  https://nationaltoday.com/data-privacy-week/, video from https://youtu.be/FrIupjDossc

Go Beyond a Day of Service and Give Back All Year Long

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, which just passed, is often known as a Day of Service.  It is designated as "a day on, not a day off." In thinking about that this past weekend, I was also struck by the fact that service shouldn't be a one-day-deal. We all have it in our power to do something more to help give back to our community. It could be every day, every week, or even once a month. Think of how much difference you could make with repeated action.

Given this line of thinking, this Good Good Good article "21 Ways To Give Back To Your Community" really hit home for me. Many of the ideas listed here promote sustainability, environmental stewardship, and taking care of your neighbors. This article inspired me to create the following checklist. How many things can you check off in 2023? Better yet, how many new ways can you create?

Infographic inspired from items listed on https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/how-to-give-back-to-community and created on Canva.com

Environmental Inspiration from Prince Ea

Prince Ea always speaks to me with his views on being in the moment, embracing life, and maximizing our time to center around priorities. A lot of time, that comes from unplugging and being in nature--something that seems increasingly more difficult for all of us to do as we become habituated in this overly connected, "tech-i-fied" and "tech-i-fried" world. 

I ran across a recent video of his entitled "Quitting Social Media," which discusses all of this and also where he's been lately since he's been out of the social media world. It was excellent, thought provoking, and takes you on a bit of an existential adventure....which is kind of where I've been a bit lately

In my clicking, I landed on this video Prince Ea created around Earth Day 2022: "Dear Parents, Do You Love Your Kids." The premise of it is that if we as parents did love our kids, we'd care more about the planet we are leaving behind. It's a good commentary on stewardship and the importance of working together the for greater good of our Earth. The message is that we should approach the climate change challenge through activism and partnering with each other versus politics and fear. 

It's also timely in that he mentions two quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr, which seems perfect to post this weekend. Additionally, Martin Luther King Day is often seen as a day of service, which ties with the environmental nudge from Prince Ea at the end of the video to check out the Nature Conservancy's "Let's Planet Together."

Image from https://loveexpands.com/quotes/prince-ea-1173402/ and video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVQYgHbtr4I

1000 Hours Outside for 2023

Over winter break, I was in the car a decent amount on travel. Whenever that happens, I find myself soaking up podcasts. I listened to several from Ginny Yurich's "1000 Hours Outside" Podcast. I've written about her quest to get kids (and all of us) outdoors at least 1000 hours a year--which is the approximate amount of time we all spend online in a year. She's a strong proponent with her book and blog for us all to unplug and really get back to the heart of ourselves through nature. 

I've stated before--that's really hard for me in the winter. But, with my goal of more days with some time outside in 2023 than not, I'm hoping to get some of those in the winter too. (It doesn't hurt that I'm writing this outside on an unseasonably warm 60 degree day.)

This post in many ways serves as a natural follow up to "Gretchen Rubin's Go Outside 23 in '23 Challenge."

Ginny Yurich has many things planned for the year ahead to get people inspired to get outdoors and be talking about a life well lived outdoors. Here are just a few, and may they serve you well!

🧩 Her Podcast: Episode 107 is one I really enjoyed, entitled: "1KHO 107: The Greater Culture is on a Sedentary Trajectory | Katy Bowman, Move Your DNA

🧩 Her New Book: Just out at the end of December: 1000 Hours Outside: Activities to Match Screen Time with Green Time

🧩 Her Tracking Pages & Lists: Her 2023 Kick-off pack free downloads will help you track everything and inspire you to get creative with your outdoor adventures. If you are high tech, there's even an app for that for $1.99 at the Apple App Store.

🧩 Her 2023 Book Club: Ginny's plotted out a monthly book club, with details here. She also discusses it on episode 100 of her podcast. Her books:

Green book club list and Book Club photo screenshot from https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/blog/bookclub; Kick-off pack screenshot from https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/blog/2023kickoff; book image of Ginny Yurich's book from https://www.amazon.com/1000-Hours-Outside-Activities-Screen/dp/0744063620/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1672693166&refinements=p_27%3AGinny+Yurich&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Ginny+Yurich

One Word: Mosaic

For the past several years I've opted for "One Word" to center my year. Some years it works out better than others to make it all 365 days, but I find it a lovely way to reflect at the start of the year to center my intentions. I also find it a bit more open, active, and "user friendly" than resolutions or "goals," which often become as restrictive as diets. It slants the year on a positive note and gives me greater momentum.

This year, my word is "mosaic." It's a word that has been swimming in my head for awhile. I find comfort in the whole point of a mosaic: the beauty is from the brokenness of the pieces of many sizes and shapes that make the art. I feel that is what we are. It is where we all shine, and we all--as humans--are both beautiful and broken and uniquely "us."

Additionally, these 3 quotes below [and the one in my art] are the ones that speak loudest to me of the 10 listed on Mosaico's March 15, 2020 blog. (Not to mention, there is some gorgeous art there). May you find your favorite quote there too.

“We are mosaics. Pieces of light, love, history, stars… Glued together with magic and music and words.” 

― Anita Krizzan

“Music is, for me, like a beautiful mosaic which God has put together. He takes all the pieces in his hand, throws them into the world, and we have to recreate the picture from the pieces.” 

– Jean Sibelius

“Marriage is a mosaic you build with your spouse. Millions of tiny moments that create your love story.” 

– Jennifer E. Smith

Words I've focused on in the past... as they may be of inspiration to you while you land on your "one word:"

• Buoyancy (2022)
• Heal (2021)
• Vitality (2020)
• The acronym WIN (2019)
• 8/-ate (2018)
• Notice (2017)
• Up (2016)
• Make (2015)
• Change (2014)

Just one word from https://blog.tcea.org/one-word/; Mosaic mage created at Canva.com

Gretchen Rubin's Go Outside 23 in '23 Challenge

Gretchen Rubin is an author of multiple books (5 of which have been on the New York Times bestseller list), the podcast host of Happier with Gretchen Rubin, and the founder of The Happiness Project (which bears the same name as her top rated 2009 book). She's done a few TED talks and has been a key speaker at many companies. And yes, when it comes to happiness, there's an app for that too. You could say, happiness is central to her studies of human nature and her world. If there's any question about it... check out her manifesto (her mission statement on steroids).

In the past, Gretchen Rubin has invited her Happier  community to take on annual challenges. Some of hers these past few years: "Walk 20 in '20," "Read 21 in '21," and "Rest 22 in '22." (That first number per phrase refers to the number of minutes she's challenging folks to engage in that activity.) 

Her challenge this year: Go Outside 23 in '23 Challenge.

Why, might you ask, is this a worthy challenge? It's no surprise that going outdoors can help boost your mood, center you, and assist with your over all mental health and sense of calm. I love the end of her comment in her explanation on the Happier App website: "Going outside can include anything from walking to bird watching; from yardwork to enjoying your morning coffee on your porch — as long as the door closes behind you, it counts!" She also talks about it in Episode 409 of her podcast. It's our daily dose of "Vitamin N: Nature." It hopes to help us all attack our ever-growing-tech addictions and our own Nature Deficit Disorder. 

I will admit, I do a great job in the spring, summer, and fall with my hours outside (and have written about it many times before), but winter is hard for me. But every now and then, a warm sunny day in a coat, under a blanket, and on the hammock help remind me of the glory warmth of that sun on my face. 

This year, the Happier App & Gretchen Rubin are centering their challenge through the Happier app. Slightly ironic, using tech to help you unplug from tech... however, the app also serves as a habit builder for positivity and mental productivity. If you are a person who is motivated by tracking of behaviors or accomplishments, this can help build accountability. Inside the app also a daily mini journal and photo log aspect of the app that allows you to lock in your memories. The extra neat piece is that there is a participation goal. Their hope: 1 million entries in the app by the end of 2023 by users. If their goal is met, the app will make a donation to the nonprofit global reforestation organization One Tree Planted, who donates a tree for every dollar donated to them. [At this writing, One Tree Planted has donated over 40,000,000 trees since it was founded in 2014.]

Whether or not you commit to doing it through the app, it's agood idea to plant "go outside" in the back of our minds. We all could use a little more naturescape and escape! I do love the extra incentive with the idea of donating to the outdoors by BEING outdoors. Together, every little action, adds up! 

Images from https://gretchenrubin.com/articles/go-outside-23-in-23/,  https://gretchenrubin.com/about/, and https://thehappierapp.com/outside-23-in-23 

Happy New Year 2023

"New Years" is more than just a new calendar being hung on the wall or a flip of the page from one month to another. Whether you buy into the idea of resolutions or not, it is the chance for a new start. School years can be like that for teachers and students. New jobs can serve that purpose too--though they do not fall on the annual timetable like a calendar or school year.

The changing of the guard of a new calendar and a new year has the hint of hope of all that lies ahead. Things that have yet to happen are somewhere in front of you, destined to be. New innovation, inventions, ideas, and inspirations lie ahead. A new year, full of new opportunities and experiences, are the biggest promise of possibilities we have. 

What will your new year have in store for you? 

Only time will tell....and of course it will be what you make it!

Happy 2023!

Grist's 23 Predictions for 2023

The week between Christmas and New Year, Week #52 of the year, has long held the tradition of being dedicated in media and magazines to that transitioning to the new year. All of the achievements, accomplishments, awards, and kudos that have happened locally, nationally, even globally are celebrated. As are the tragic losses we've had the past year. (Oh, Betty White, we miss you!) Additionally, it starts gearing up to the preparations and predications of what all may happen in the new year.

Given that, I have fallen in love with Grist's 23 Predictions for 2023 and now is the perfect time to share it.

For those of you who don't know about Grift, it's a nonprofit, environmentally-oriented media organizatiton whose goal is to strive for a better, more just and climate conscious world since 1999. They focus on climate change solutions and innovation, with the goal to bring down emissions by 2030.

Their 23 Predictions for 2023 article is a combination of innovation and forecasts for the upcoming year by 23 climate and environmental justice specialists. The key areas they looked at: 

Big Wins:

With the US passing its climate legislation ("Inflation Reduction Act") in August, $369 billion will go toward cutting emissions and helping at-risk climate-vulnerable communities. Additionally, November's COP27 made some historic moves toward global climate justice. 

Here's an overview of the 23 predictions by category--you can always learn more at Grist's 23 Predictions for 2023 by clicking the "Read More" buttons under each expert and their prediction.

Water 

This past year had 47% of the United States facing one of the worst droughts in over 1,000 years. Water security is paramount!

1). "Western states must find common ground managing the Colorado River"

Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University

2). "Nature-based solutions and Indigenous input will make 2023 a turning point"

Felicia Marcus, attorney, founding member of Water Policy Group, and visiting fellow at Stanford University’s Water in the West program

3). "Data-driven technology will shape how we use water"

Newsha Ajami, hydrologist and chief development officer for research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Earth and Environmental Sciences Area

Ecosystems 

Through healthy ecosystems (especially marine, forest and wetland which hold carbon dioxide) aid against the blow of climate change. We need to use nature to help us fight the destruction we have caused.

4). "2023 will bring more environmental threats — and more money for solutions"

Tarik Benmarhnia, environmental epidemiologist at Scripps Institute of Oceanography

5). "Wetlands (finally) get the attention they deserve"

Eric W. Sanderson, senior ecologist at Wildlife Conservation Society

6). "Reforestation will uplift frontline communities"

Michael French, forester and director of operations at Green Forests Work

Politics & Policy 

Life after the midterm elections in November placed a lot of environmentally-friendly governors and other legislators as the winners of their race. The year ahead will see where we are with those promises of eco-justice and initiatives. 

7). "A new EPA office could mean additional protections for vulnerable communities"

Catherine Coleman Flowers, founder of the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice; vice chair of the White House EJ Advisory Council

8). "The midterm results will drive progress at the state and local levels"

Leah Stokes, political scientist and professor of environmental politics at the University of California, Santa Barbara

9). "Bipartisanship and pragmatism will shape climate policies"

Quill Robinson, vice president of governmental affairs at American Conservation Coalition

10). "Activists will pressure the U.S. to ‘walk the talk’ after COP27"

Adrien Salazar, policy director at Grassroots Global Justice Alliance

11). "SCOTUS will complicate, but not thwart, national EJ initiatives"

Emily Hammond, energy and environmental law professor at George Washington University Law School

Mitigation & Adaptation 

Over time, climate disasters (like wildfires, heatwaves, and hurricanes) have been intensifying. 2022 had many record breaking floods, record breaking heat days, record number of wildfires in the past ten years, and catastrophic hurricanes. This trend has been happening in 90% of the United States over the last ten years, so these climate disaster reports are not "new news." Where we go from here will be important.

12). "People will hold governments accountable"

Njoki Mwarumba, assistant professor of emergency management and disaster preparedness at the University of Nebraska

13). "Communities will drive a bottom-up transformation in renewables"

Arturo Massol-Deyá, executive director of Casa Pueblo

14). "We need to be open to the possibility of relocation"

Auroop R. Ganguly, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northeastern University

15). "We must make bold moves towards resilience"

Maxwell Alejandro Frost, representative-elect for Florida’s 10th congressional district and the first member of Gen Z elected to Congress

Technology

Part of the money from the Inflation Reduction Act is slated toward innovation in clean and green energy. It supports tax credits and incentives. Likewise, it supports creating circular "cradle to grave" to maximize resources.

16). "The IRA will supercharge a circular, domestic EV supply chain"

Alexis Georgeson, vice president of government relations and communications at Redwood Materials

17). "Tribes will lead the next phase of the EV transition"

Robert Blake, executive director of Native Sun Community Power Development

18). "American homes will electrify faster than ever"

Sam Calisch, head of special projects at Rewiring America

19). "The mining required for clean energy will create new EJ battles"

Jade Begay, climate justice campaign director at NDN Collective

Business

After seeing companies and business models that have successfully prioritized sustainability, it has shifted what is possible in the business world....while other companies have backed away. What lessons can we take away from 2022's successes to promote greater sustainability in the business world?

20). "Underrepresented founders will get the funding they deserve"

Destana Herring, associate at Regeneration.VC

21). "Brands will find new ways to generate revenue from their used products"

Nellie Cohen, director of circular business models at sustainability consultancy Anthesis

22). "Investors will zoom in on climate and impact"

Alyssa Stankiewicz, associate director of sustainability research at Morningstar

23). "Companies will need to show they are taking the climate crisis seriously"

Corley Kenna, head of communications and policy at Patagonia

Image from https://grist.org/fix/policy/23-predictions-for-2023-climate-justice-forecast-trends/

May the Season Delight Your Heart

December is such a flurry. Holiday parties. Shopping for people you care for. Decorating your home with lights or other adornments tied to your traditions. Attending seasonal shows, holiday plays, or musical events. Readying for Winter Breaks from school, including final projects and exam season for many high school and college students. Baking cookies and preparing for feasts. Gathering with friends and friends. Traveling from one celebration to another. 

It is a busy and full month, regardless of the holiday and traditions you celebrate.

Whether you are ending your holiday traditions or just getting geared up, may this time bring you peace, love, hope, joy, gratitude, rich memories, and time with the people you care for.

Images created by www.canva.com.

The Cost of Christmas

Inflation has been a bit of an economic buzz word this past year. 

An interesting way to take a peek at inflation is to look at life through song. A seasonal song. 

PNC Bank makes it easy.

Every year, for the last 39 years, PNC updates their PNC Price Index website where they price the items in the song "The 12 Days of Christmas."

Now that we are within those last 12 days until Christmas, it's the perfect time not check it out.

Read and overview about this year's numbers by checking out PNC's Insight article.

Then be sure to see which of the items from the song are up, what items are down, (and what one item annually irks me!) by checking out the PNC Price Index.

It'll make you feel better about your own Christmas expenditures and budget!

Also, be sure to check out my 2018 and 2020 posts on the subject and ways I've used it in the classroom (and how I've included Hanukkah too).

Image from the PNC Price Index: https://www.pncchristmaspriceindex.com/en/about-pnc/topics/pnc-christmas-price-index.html

Choose Your Own Holiday Adventure Here in the Final Countdown

The final countdown is on. Christmas (December 25), Hanukkah (December 18-26), and the 7 days of Kwanzaa (starting December 26) are all right around the corner. With the final few days ahead (depending on your holiday), time is dwindling & you may feel more "scurried and hurried" than "holly and jolly." 

Where are you with everything? 

Did you shop til you drop, hitting up Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, or do you still need to run out? 

Think of this post as a "Choose Your Own Holiday Adventure" for what you need right now.

Do you need to attack the wrap? Here are some eco-friendly ways to wrap those presents of yours that are still all stockpiled in their shopping bags or shipping boxes.

• Real Simple's "18+ Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping Options You Can Feel Good About" by Lisa Milbrand and Yelena Moroz Alpert

Do you need to center and destress, seeing the real reason of the season and step away from the more, more more...check these out:

• Becoming Minimalist's "10 Simple Christmas Truths We Need to Remind Ourselves Every Year" by Joshua Becker 

• Becoming Minimalist's "Holiday Shopping. We Can Do Better." by Joshua Becker

Do you need to still need to gather some gifts for a few folks? Consider these possibilities:

• Going Zero Waste & Katherine Kellogg's "75 Consumable Gift Ideas"

• Becoming Minimalist's "99 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas" by Joshua Becker

• WCBV's Article Holiday Gifts Come With a Lot of Waste. Here's How to Give Greener, According to Experts by Rachel Ramirez

Wherever you are with your holiday season, take some time this last week to stop and think about what you need, who is important in your life, and make time for those. Additionally, make some time for sitting and taking in the moment of this time of the year, putting the frenzy aside!

Image created at www.canva.com.

CNN Heroes 2022

This past Sunday, Anderson Cooper and Kelly Ripa hosted the now-annual "CNN Heroes: An All Star Tribute." This year marks the 16th year that everyday heroes have been honored for their humanitarian achievements for making the world a better place. 

In a world filled with too-often every-day-bad news, having a program dedicating 2 hours to sharing good news, triumphs, and movement to better the world, warms the heart. It goes to show that everyday people ARE indeed our heroes and the change makers we need. It is the everyday inspiration that we need, and the holiday season is the perfect time for this to air. 

The alphabetical list below is the top 10 CNN Heroes from 2022 and their innovative ideas, from CNN's Press Room site.

💛 Carie Broecker, Peace of Mind Dog Rescue  [from Pacific Grove, CA] -- Creating volunteer services for elderly dog and their owners who are struggling to care for their pets with dignity by helping them in their own homes, or finding the pets new long-lasting homes.

💛 Richard Casper, CreatiVets  [from Nashville, TN] -- Offering combat veterans emotional support and therapy through creative art, music, songwriting, storytelling, and healing through his own experience as a former Marine in Iraq. 

💛 Nelly Cheboi, TechLit Africa  [from Mogotio, Kenya & Shabbona, IL] -- Stemming from her Kenyan, poverty experience, she pairs her passion of computer science to provide tech skills on upccycled computers to slice the cycle of poverty for others through education. 

💛 Nora El-Khouri Spencer, Hope Renovations  [from Carrboro, NC] -- Breaking gender boundaries by providing training in the construction field for women, non-binary, and gender-queer individuals, and using those skills to help modify homes to make them more safe for seniors.

💛 Tyrique Glasgow, Young Chances Foundation  [from Philadelphia, PA] -- Growing from his own 5 year incarceration from drugs and building his community by creating a center to prove safe opportunities for his neighborhood. Through education, resources, youth programs, and support, he builds and lifts his community up. 

💛 Teresa Gray, Mobile Medics International  [from Anchorage, AK] -- Working as a paramedic and nurse to get volunteer medics where they are needed for care and support for those encountering natural disasters and humanitarian situations.

💛 Meymuna Hussein-Cattan, The Tiyya Foundation  [from Santa Ana, CA] -- Supporting refugees and asylum seekers to help them transition to American life, sharing their culture and their food through her LA restaurant "Flavors from Afar."

💛 Aidan Reilly, The Farmlink Project  [from Santa Ana, CA] -- Created a nationwide web of volunteers to address food waste and insecurity, redirecting excess food from farms to people in need.

💛 Debra Vines, The Answer Inc  [from Maywood, IL] -- Provides underserved minority families of children and adults on the autism spectrum with assistive services and education.

💛 Bobby Wilson, Metro Atlanta Urban Farm  [from Atlanta, GA] -- Educating, feeding, and healing his community in ways to grow and prepare their own healthy food.

While all 10 of these individuals were recognized as the top ten CNN heroes, overall CNN Hero of the year this year went to Nelly Cheboi based on viewer voting. 

Suburu backed the voting and donations to each cause. If any of these inspire you, you too may donate to any of these individuals and their causes. To learn more, check out the CNN Hero Website, where you can also nominate heroes for 2023. It is worth checking out your television provider to see if you can catch the December 11th, 2022 program On Demand.

Image from https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2022/11/03/top-10-cnn-heroes-of-2022-announced-2/; video from https://youtu.be/AnME9LEok0c

Down to Earth w/Zac Efron Season 2

As I'm home recovering from a 2nd surgery this year, I'm faced with a lot of reading and TV time, once again. 

One of my binge-watching shows last time was Zac Efron's "Down to Earth," Season 1. 

Well, the second season of this Netflix series is out! This season, "Down to Earth" happens Down Under. Australia.

Back in business with wellness expert Darin Olien, Zac and the show continue to check out sustainable living. What began for Zac as a surfing trip in Australia morphed into Season 2 when Zac got stuck there due to Covid lockdown.

Some of my favorite parts included the educational animated shorts that teach about certain concepts on a very any-age-friendly, eco-friendly way. Additionally, it goes without saying that the scenery is amazing as well. Australia always has that exotic feel, and this show is no different. It is interesting to see the environmental issues that are unique (for example: koala populations) and those that are universal (wildfires, energy conservation, and more). 

The episode lineup is as follows:

1: Habitat Conservation
2: Regenerative Agricuture
3: Great Barrier Reef
4: Torres Strait
5: Waste
6: Wildfire
7: Aboriginal Voices
8: Eco Inovators

After soaking in these 8 episodes, you walk away with a greater appreciation of the planet, getting to be arm-chair tourists. Additionally, you grow your environmental stewardship by learning along the way.


Image from https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/zac-efron-down-to-earth-season-2-trailer, video from https://youtu.be/j2rlnsGWGBU, map from https://www.worldatlas.com/maps/australia

Plastic Man in Senegal

A picture often speaks louder than words. 

That is what environmental activist Modou Fall is hoping for. And from the look of the foreground and surrounding area, plastic trash and pollution are certainly a problem, as seen here on Yarakh Beach in Dakar, Senegal. 

For over a decade, Modou has been traveling around West Africa to spotlight the pollution and environmental problem we are facing... and making sure he's remembered as he goes in his awareness uniform. Having founded the organization "Clean Senegal," Modou educates others on the peril of plastic pollution and its global impact. He goes by the name "Plastic Man." His plastic inspired uniform (which he has repeatedly stated is not a "costume") takes after Kankurang, a Senegalese cultural icon who protects the land, donned in woven grasses, protecting its people from evil spirits. He feels that by teaching others to protect the environment, he  has many of the same roles to the local people.

To read more about Modou, check out this article in the New York Times or see these pictures over at The Guardian.

Image from  https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2022/nov/21/plastic-man-in-senegal-on-mission-against-trash-in-pictures

52 Clutter Free Gifts

'Tis the season to be shopping... or at least that's what one would have you to think from anywhere from mid-November through the December holiday season. 

I was recently telling my college-aged daughter about my long-standing, complicated relationship with Christmas. It's a swirly mix of a full calendar events, to-do lists, and a bounty of extra preparations in an already run-around schedule. Then there's the commercialism and expense, the wants and needs, the environmental demands in more, more more STUFF...all combined with the "happiest time of the year." I feel this phrase can be a misnomer of heightened expectations, especially as you get older and people you love are no longer here. High expectations can also easily lead to disappointments as reality and human frailty and flaws are at play. There can be a lot of pressure at this time of the year: the perfect gift, the perfect dinner, the perfect family events. In the mix, sometimes the true meaning of the season gets lost in the frenzy and stress. At times, it can make me perfectly Grinchly. 

With all of that, I found myself apologizing to my daughter about my grinchly-ness because even on the cusp of total adulthood, she adores the season and all that goes with it. It's not my job to sprinkle my mixed feelings like snow in a snowglobe and dash her delight.

One thing that helps me to take a look at the gifts--both in my requests and in the ones I give. I know I'm fortunate and I really don't "need" more "stuff." My needs are fulfilled, with the exception of needing more time with the people I love. And when it comes to "wants," more and more, post-Covid in particular, I'm finding the wants also involve shared time over stuff. Time and togetherness are certainly clutter free. Perhaps this is why this list of 52 Clutter Free Gifts really spoke to me. 

May it serve some inspiration for you too, and help center you this season in the true meaning of the holidays.

Image from The Art of Simple FB page and created by https://www.becomingminimalist.com/: https://www.facebook.com/theartofsimple/posts/pfbid037QU9xenu3NVybhUguae4rLXF5miJPprDAWs4TVLL2EHTi8wQuLQEfmBqoF8zBaV6l

Dial Down Your Eco-Anxiety

Climate change concern, especially in the era of crazy, polarized politics, can lead to eco-anxiety. What exactly is that? Eco-Anxiety is the nerve-racking mix of worriness, nervousness, uncertainty, and other levels of distress that come about due to being aware of our planetary environmental issues. Sometimes it falls in the category of hyper-focus or overthinking... and sometimes it comes from having an overly sensitive and caring heart. But, it's hard to leave your empathy behind when you care about the planet and feel helpless or hopeless about what to do with the growing environmental concerns.

 

I ran across this Intersectional Environmentalist post, which inspired me to create this visual below on Canva.com. May it serve you well if you are inspired to take to journal writing, which is always a good way to deal with emotions. 

Eco Anxiety by Vicki Dabrowka

For more reading on the subject of eco-anxiety and what you can do to help yourself out, check out these articles:

• Good Housekeeping's Feb 2022 article: "Is the Fear of Climate Change Keeping You Up at Night? How to Cope With Eco-Anxiety" by Meryl Davids Landau
• Thred's July 2021 article: "If You’re Worried About Climate Change You May Have Eco-Anxiety"
• American Psychological Association's post on "Climate Change's Toll On Mental Health"

Additionally, here are some times when I've alluded to eco-anxiety in the past here on GTG:

• Eco-Mindfulness 
• How To Not Be (Completely) Depressed About Climate Change by Sarah Lazarovic
• A Trio of Messengers of Hope
• Climate Rage is Sexy

If you are finding yourself completely overwhelmed or distraught with climate/environmental anxiety, please seek help through loved ones or trained mental health professionals. 

Dictionary definition image from https://thred.com/change/if-youre-worried-about-climate-change-you-may-have-eco-anxiety/
Presentation created by me on canva.com, and compiled with images from 
https://www.facebook.com/intersectionalenvironmentalist/posts/pfbid02dShWkGcnbTK18EG3w2uQNmw74NebQ3kzSbAD4ukDFjZLvSaZSGT9b4n4tyvAy7bAl [Text by @kiana.kaz ; images by @burcukoleli]

The Benefits of Birds

There are a lot of sayings and idioms that involve birds: 

• Like a duck to water
• Birds of a feather flock together
• Free as a bird
• Birds eye view

And these are just a few. [For more, check out The Spruce's article Bird Idioms Explained.]

But the fact that they impact our language so much pays tribute to how readily available our flying feathered friends are. 

And lucky for us...birds do not just influence our language. They apparently serve our mind, body and spirit! Mary Jo DiLonardo addressed this fact in her 11/9/2022 Treehugger article "Seeing or Hearing Birds Is Good for Well-Being"

Researcher Ryan Hammoud (from King's College in London) led the study, finding that having birds in our sights or sound-space can actually provide positive emotional benefits for up to 8 hours. His goal in his research: to use the information for combining health, urban design, and city plannning. Hammoud noted that there has been a lot of studies focusing around the healthy impacts of Vitamin N--Nature, but not specifically centered on birds. (Vitamin FF--Feathered Friends?? 😉) 

Using the app Urban Mind, his experiments focused on 1,292 people who completed almost 27,000 assessments, surveys, and follow up questions. Three times a day, these experiment participants were asked questions about their proximity to birds as well as their current emotions--both positive ones (like self-assured, joyful, relaxed) and negative ones (like apprehension, overwhelm, and detached). Additionally, they took data on participants' diaagnosed mental health conditions. Researchers wanted to determine if there was any correlation between the birds and their mental well-being.

Results showed that regardless of diagnosis of mental health, all participants showed a positive spike in their emotional state when birds were factored in (regardless of other environmental stimuli)--sometimes lasting up to 8 hours. This was the first evidentiary study to prove that both the songbirds' melodies and watching them in fanciful flight or simply dining at the bird feeder. It also provided scientific confirmation that the biodiversity that surrounds us when we are out in nature (the flora, the fauna, and the feathered) all are part of that Vitamin N. [Go here to read the entire scientific report of the study.]

Additionally, this scientific study supports the efforts of 3BillionBirds.org and their pursuit to protect bird populations. According to their statistics, we no longer have 1 of every 4 birds we had in 1970. This species loss we now know also has a significant impact on our mental health (particularly depression). By raising conservation efforts when it comes to birds, we also--once again--are giving ourselves and our planet the gift of health.

My husband and I joke about how the older we get, the more bird feeders and birdhouses we seem to be acquiring. Little did we know we were just being proactive about our mental health! That's definitely "something to crow about," and may just be the key to being "happy as a lark."

* Bonus: Want to bring more nature sounds into your life to help create some calm while you "get your ducks in a row?" Check out this 3 hour soundtrack of bird songs from Acerting Arts on YouTube.

Image from https://www.treehugger.com/seeing-hearing-birds-good-well-being-6824038 and https://www.3billionbirds.org/why-birds-matter; and video from https://youtu.be/cdzU84AyCdI

Hope & Happy Thanksgiving

Given a little Halloween frightfest at the hospital this year (aka: scheduled surgery), I've been back to being laid up with more "wintering" and recovery happening at home. 

What does that mean for me? A lot of sleeping, reading, some TV binging, and repeating... once again. 

The timing of it is such that it has hit a lot of holidays: starting with Halloween, then spanning my Thanksgiving and Christmas, with the return being hopefully at the start of the new year. 

I did this purposefully to take advantages of the Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks, because ahhh... the calendar as decided by the teacher's school year!

One of the many books I read during this span of time was Hope: A User's Manual by MaryAnn McKibben Dana. I got it for a friend of mine who is troubled by the global climate crisis and how we always seem to miss our mark. As can happen with climate conversations, the level of doom and gloom can get you down. 

I wanted to give my friend "hope." Given "hope" has been a frequent theme in my own book choices, I felt I could use another dose of it myself, and got myself a copy as well.

The thing I really liked about this book (and something that made it fascinating to be reading it while sequestered at home during election season earlier this month), is that it referenced hope through the lens of so many things. 

Included in this list: elections, insurrections, social justice, systemic racism, climate change, pandemic pandemonium, and more. Many of these things are the exact concepts that (over the last half dozen years) still feel so heavy on me. Hope: A User's Manual met my post-hospitalization-hibernation well. I utilized this time to sleep, recover, and reflect on it all along with many other things. The author admitted early on the mere writing of the book, during the pandemic, was an attempt to "write herself back into a sense of hope" [p. 11]. 

I needed that book too.

MaryAnn McKibben Dana paints hope as different than optimism, toxic positivity, pithy platitudes, gaslighting, perfectionism, or over-romanticized nigglings and notions. 

Instead, hope is a "muscle to be exercised" [p. 22]. 

It is active not passive. 

It sometimes is quiet, and sometimes it gains fire from an anger that burns within. 

It can sometimes stem from joy and laughter and play. 

It can often times be uncomfortable--but we don't grow through comfort. 

It is a story we cultivate. 

It's the micro-movements we make. 

It's the breaths that stablize us. 

It's the beauty in nature that surrounds us. 

It's the small beacon of light on a dark day. 

It's the hard things that don't get fixed quickly or sometimes even in our generation, but that improve over time. 

It's the collective good fight to create a better world. 

It is grace, compassion, self-kindness, and perseverance. 

To me, hope has a lot of the same power as gratitude.

Gratitude is what alters your perspective toward what you have, not what you need. It can inspire you to give to those who need appreciation. It can lead you to give to grow your thankful heart.

May you have a Thanksgiving holiday filled with gratitude, friendship, countless blessings, and hope. 

Photos from https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/g22701713/happy-thanksgiving-quotes/?slide=9; Additionally, from the same website gallery: Slide 5, Slide 2, Slide 12, Slide 16, Slide 21, slide 22, Slide 25, Slide 29, Slide 32; Banner created at www.canva.com