@Suddenly Jamie shared this one. Lovely writing with plenty of truths; from god-oil-greed to future generations not able to experience even the populations we still value. It brought another particular lump to my throat, as truth sometimes hurts terribly.
As an elder, I already know of what you wrote but I'm so very grateful you are spreading the word while at the same time, resolving to take action. Change takes work (far more efficient and sane than 'fighting' for change).
All the winged ones are my particular loves - my acreage, even within the vegetable gardens, was dedicated to them the moment I set foot 35 yrs ago. It has been and continues to be planted for them. Not lauding myself.
This work natural for me, a native -not indigenous- rural northern person. It's not for everyone...and I couldn't be an accountant either. 😏
thank you for this lovely comment, JT! Your acreage sounds like a winged wonderland. "Change takes work" is so true - and it can be hard to keep working when results aren't seen, but on we must go.
So insightful and such gorgeous prose. That question of how we move out of apathy in the face of such overwhelm -- over and over we return to this. To expect something... I want to follow that thought much further.
Your words are beautiful and break my heart. I no longer feel hope that things will change. I feel only despair and yes, rage. I have seen no redwings yet this year, but am keeping my eyes peeled!
THIS: “Addressing my shifting baseline is important, I think, and probably the first step: I need to expect something again – decision, action, progress.”
There is a vulnerability inherent to expectation, a willingness to risk hope and its bedfellow disappointment. I take this first step with you toward possibility, and in doing so feel the ache of all that has already been lost.
and in return, THIS - "There is a vulnerability inherent to expectation, a willingness to risk hope" . So eloquently put. It is so hard to open ourselves to hurt this way. I think I'm still learning how to do it. Thank you for stepping with me xx
In opening ourselves to these losses and to our rage, we open ourselves as well to how much we love the world. And I think it is this love that gives us the strength to keep looking and speaking and acting on her behalf.
Thank you so much for this exquisite writing to raise awareness of our most pressing challenge of the ecological crisis. Thank you also for your beautiful narration which helped the piece to fully land in my heart♥️🙏🕊️
Thank you for this powerful witness. You e given me much to think about. For the past two weeks, I’ve been feeling numb and in need of alone time in nature, protected from the tsunami of chaos post-election. I admit I’ve largely tuned out COP, and that’s not good. Maybe climate activists need to start a new yearly meeting, since this one has been corrupted by greed.
I mostly tuned out of COP, too. It all felt too heavy in the wake of the election and there's only so much we can carry. A new meeting may be the best way forward, although the cynic in me wonders if a repeat of COP will happen. It needs everyone to take it seriously, and at the moment it just feels like that won't happen.
Spot on. Could there be a greater gap between the magnificence of the natural world and our ability to care for it? Sometimes I find a crumb of almost geologic comfort in knowing that the planet is more resilient than we are and that it can heal and thrive and evolve given a few thousand years. But rarely has a guest ruined a party so quickly.
"a crumb of almost geologic comfort" - this is poetry!! and I feel it, too. But also heavy with the weight of all the suffering we bring during our brief stint on this planet.
Thank you rebecca. New subscriber from the Pacific NW. Never been to the Orkneys but stared at those waves from John o' Groats after biking from Land's End - the very picture of daunting. Water only does that here where the Columbia meets the Pacific. What is it that makes our liminal places the richest? Intertidal zones, predawn, the bardo...
So happy to have you here! I've visited vancouver island before (does that count as PNW?) and fell head over heels for it. All that wild water and forest! A gorgeous part of the world. Yes the waters here are tumultuous - the pentland firth puts fear in the heart of any sensible person!
So COOL that your dad rode it - I loved the ride and preferred Scotland. Got snowed on in the Cairngorms in summer! Yes Vancouver Island is PNW (even Alaska sneaks into the PNW although to me when I think PNW I think far larger trees than Alaska).
Thanks Rebecca. Excellent and rewarding once again
thank you Jonathan!
Thank you for this Rebecca. We live in a dwindling wild world, indeed, but must not turn away from the pain of seeing this realty.
I’ve shared this everywhere I can. Such exquisitely lovely, important work.
oh thank you, this is so appreciated. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Shared and followed. Thanks @Jonathan Foster for pointing us here.
thanks for following, rena! I'm glad this piece resonated with you.
@Suddenly Jamie shared this one. Lovely writing with plenty of truths; from god-oil-greed to future generations not able to experience even the populations we still value. It brought another particular lump to my throat, as truth sometimes hurts terribly.
As an elder, I already know of what you wrote but I'm so very grateful you are spreading the word while at the same time, resolving to take action. Change takes work (far more efficient and sane than 'fighting' for change).
All the winged ones are my particular loves - my acreage, even within the vegetable gardens, was dedicated to them the moment I set foot 35 yrs ago. It has been and continues to be planted for them. Not lauding myself.
This work natural for me, a native -not indigenous- rural northern person. It's not for everyone...and I couldn't be an accountant either. 😏
thank you for this lovely comment, JT! Your acreage sounds like a winged wonderland. "Change takes work" is so true - and it can be hard to keep working when results aren't seen, but on we must go.
Thank you, rebecca.
So insightful and such gorgeous prose. That question of how we move out of apathy in the face of such overwhelm -- over and over we return to this. To expect something... I want to follow that thought much further.
thank you Jan! I am still trying to follow this thought, too. It is easy to say it, harder to act on it...
We are all "boiling frogs" now, and the planet is our cauldron.
It certainly seems that way. But still, we can make some impact by resisting, I think.
Yes, we must resist, if for no other reason than to assure ourselves that we can!
Your words are beautiful and break my heart. I no longer feel hope that things will change. I feel only despair and yes, rage. I have seen no redwings yet this year, but am keeping my eyes peeled!
I, too, find it so hard to find hope. The future looks bleak. I hope some redwings find you and provide some joy!
THIS: “Addressing my shifting baseline is important, I think, and probably the first step: I need to expect something again – decision, action, progress.”
There is a vulnerability inherent to expectation, a willingness to risk hope and its bedfellow disappointment. I take this first step with you toward possibility, and in doing so feel the ache of all that has already been lost.
Thank you always for your keen insight.
and in return, THIS - "There is a vulnerability inherent to expectation, a willingness to risk hope" . So eloquently put. It is so hard to open ourselves to hurt this way. I think I'm still learning how to do it. Thank you for stepping with me xx
In opening ourselves to these losses and to our rage, we open ourselves as well to how much we love the world. And I think it is this love that gives us the strength to keep looking and speaking and acting on her behalf.
oh yes Carri, I could not agree more! Love, loss, rage, action - I think they all swim the same rivers.
A stunning reminder of what we need to do, beautiful as ever Rebecca
thank you, Rosalind!
Thank you so much for this exquisite writing to raise awareness of our most pressing challenge of the ecological crisis. Thank you also for your beautiful narration which helped the piece to fully land in my heart♥️🙏🕊️
I'm so pleased this piece landed in your heart, Camilla. thank you for reading ♥️
Damn. Gorgeous. Gentle. Pondering. And also rage. Not easy to pull off. And yet you did. Thank you for this.
♥️ thank you!
Thank you for this powerful witness. You e given me much to think about. For the past two weeks, I’ve been feeling numb and in need of alone time in nature, protected from the tsunami of chaos post-election. I admit I’ve largely tuned out COP, and that’s not good. Maybe climate activists need to start a new yearly meeting, since this one has been corrupted by greed.
I mostly tuned out of COP, too. It all felt too heavy in the wake of the election and there's only so much we can carry. A new meeting may be the best way forward, although the cynic in me wonders if a repeat of COP will happen. It needs everyone to take it seriously, and at the moment it just feels like that won't happen.
The capture of COP is indeed very disheartening. I hold out hope that activists will find a creative way forward.
Oh I hope so too!
"Addressing my shifting baseline is important, I think, and probably the first step: I need to expect something again – decision, action, progress.
This, alone, is perhaps my first small act of protest."
This resonates and is an important reminder. Beautiful, urgent writing that has a calm softeness to its surface: oceanic, as always.
oh thank you so much John. I'm so glad this piece spoke to you.
Spot on. Could there be a greater gap between the magnificence of the natural world and our ability to care for it? Sometimes I find a crumb of almost geologic comfort in knowing that the planet is more resilient than we are and that it can heal and thrive and evolve given a few thousand years. But rarely has a guest ruined a party so quickly.
"a crumb of almost geologic comfort" - this is poetry!! and I feel it, too. But also heavy with the weight of all the suffering we bring during our brief stint on this planet.
Thank you rebecca. New subscriber from the Pacific NW. Never been to the Orkneys but stared at those waves from John o' Groats after biking from Land's End - the very picture of daunting. Water only does that here where the Columbia meets the Pacific. What is it that makes our liminal places the richest? Intertidal zones, predawn, the bardo...
So happy to have you here! I've visited vancouver island before (does that count as PNW?) and fell head over heels for it. All that wild water and forest! A gorgeous part of the world. Yes the waters here are tumultuous - the pentland firth puts fear in the heart of any sensible person!
Ps so cool that you did lands end to john o'groats! My dad did it many years ago and me and my brother supported him en route.
So COOL that your dad rode it - I loved the ride and preferred Scotland. Got snowed on in the Cairngorms in summer! Yes Vancouver Island is PNW (even Alaska sneaks into the PNW although to me when I think PNW I think far larger trees than Alaska).