It Was Only A Matter Of Time...

 

Hi!

Well, up to this point, this winter, we have been left basically snowless. It's not a very popular opinion where I hang my hat, but I was okay with the snowlessness. In fact, I would relish the opportunity to have a heartfelt yearning for it. 

It was only a matter of time. Although climate change is really beginning to impact our weather patterns, we have yet to reach the point of a completely snowless winter in Saskatchewan. If/when that happens, I just hope it's gradual enough to allow our farmers to adapt.

There are more and more people on the planet to feed, fewer acres to work with, and weather patterns are becoming more extreme and more unpredictable. I'm absolutely no expert, by the furthest stretch of the imagination, but I can't help but wonder what will be growing in the fields that surround me twenty years from now. Will it still be canola? Flax? Wheat? Or will it have to be something totally different to accommodate the new and different growing season, the new rainfall patterns, the different temperatures? 

Adapting will be essential. Time will tell how that will all play out. 

In the meantime, we do what we can to slow the process down, as best we can. Some of the bigger initiatives seem pointless, even a bit silly. Like banning plastic shopping bags but not putting any restrictions on manufacturers about the amount of plastic used in packaging... for everything. Electric cars are fantastic in theory, but they don't work great in -30C, charging takes a long time, and there are other glitches that don't make them completely practical, at least where I live. 

The powers that be, I think, are moving in the right direction, they have the recipe, they know what they want the end product to be, but it seems the proportions and methods are still off a bit. If they want something awesome when all is said and done, they need to tweek the recipe, not give up, just... adjust. 

Each of us can do little things. Only we know if we are really doing all we could be doing. It's a very individual, personal thing. But we know, even if we pretend we don't. 

We, as the totality of humanity, are living in a time of historical significance. We are recovering from a global pandemic, and everything that entails. We are still only discovering the ripples that we couldn't predict would, could, and are still being felt. Right-wing, anti-democracy forces are trying to circumvent and destroy inclusive ideology and progression. Their only agenda seems to be to spread as much hate and mistrust as they can, making life as hard as possible for those whom they consider "different."A lack of critical thinking is plaguing our citizens. 

We, as the totality of humanity, are living in a time of historical significance. We can be spectators, choose apathy, and watch the dystopia that is depicted in almost every futuristic movie come to fruition, or we can stand up and do something about it.

I know that sounds daunting, but it doesn't have to be. It boils down to a very simple philosophy. 

Be very aware that the skin you live in and the circumstances into which you are born requires neither talent nor intelligence, it's happenstance. So any feeling of superiority is, on its face, ridiculous. Act accordingly. Live accordingly. Visceral kindness can solve everything. 

*************************************************************

May we find it within ourselves to do all we need to do to give future generations the amazing lives we've always promised. 

***********************************************************