Our society tends to understand when people move up, move away and on to better things, but that understanding fades when they see someone’s actions as giving up something that they have earned. We understand when someone gets excited about a new promotion, buys a bigger house, moves to a better neighborhood or a city […]
environment
Solidarity (and what it means to stand together)
I’ll admit I’ve been feeling the crunch recently. Being back from travels, catching up and trying to get my feet back under me has left me with quite a few full plates – if you would like a visual, close your eyes, and imagine those people at the circus who spin multiple plates around on […]
Connect the Dots (or: a climate realization)
This past Saturday marked the second big environmental event in as many weeks for me. I have been a volunteer community organizer for 350.org since 2009, and when they announced plans for a day of “connecting the dots on climate change” I was immediately in, despite the quick turnaround between events. At that point, I […]
Trains, Buses (and automobiles)
(Yes, that was a pathetic play on “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”… but air travel doesn’t really fit with today’s topic!) At the end of last year, I finally sold my car, after months of attempting to do so. While I was initially unsure of how my first foray into the car-free lifestyle would work out, […]
Kicking Fear in the Face (and telling it to hit the road)
Have you ever been paralyzed by fear? Not just nervous about the outcome of something big, but really truly stuck in place, unable to move because you are so terrified? I have to admit that I have been fortunate enough to have never experienced anything truly traumatic in my life. Yes, I’ve been scared plenty […]
Unplugged (or: getting away from it all)
“Somebody stop the world. I want to get off!” How many times have you or someone you know uttered those words, even in jest? In this constantly-connected, on-the-go world we live in, sometimes it’s all we can do to just keep up. If you’re a small business owner, a freelancer just starting out, someone who […]