As the poet wrote, “The world is too much with us” lately. It’s easy to feel despair in the face of social upheaval, natural catastrophe, and economic hardship. Many of us struggle to live a more sustainable lifestyle, but need an infusion of optimism in these troubled times.
Enter Mike Nickerson, founder of The Sustainability Project / 7th Generation Initiative. This is a non-profit group that’s all about collecting and disseminating ideas to promote sustainability. It offers thoughtful articles, resources, and free online mini-courses, all founded on the conviction that we CAN bring a better future into being.
Perspective is everything; much depends on our ability to overcome our egoism as a species and focus on the bigger picture. In his article titled “When Things Seem Overwhelming: It’s Never Too Late”, Nickerson writes:
“Individuals who have been fortunate enough, in formative years, to live in the presence of nature will have an innate sense of a strong order, beyond the human realm. There is a robustness to the life that thrives everywhere that water is found… Ancient beyond imagining, the matrix of nature has rebounded from catastrophes far more serious than what humans can muster.”
These are words both humbling and wise. A few years ago, I had the good fortune to meet Mike Nickerson when he visited the Alberni Transition Town Society. A woodworker by trade and a writer/philosopher by vocation, Mike proved to be a well-read, articulate fellow. He combined a no-nonsense analysis with pragmatic solutions and undeterred optimism. If you’re feeling tired and wrung-out by current events, his site is well worth a visit.
Leave a Reply