Ecodecade: Devoting 10 Years to Earth's Well-Being

The Project:  Ecodecade
Dedicate the next decade of my life (2015-2025) to helping the environment.

The Goal: 
To have the biggest possible net positive impact on the environment in this decade (2015-2025).

Alternate goals (in case the first one doesn’t work out):
Plan B: To have a net positive impact on the environment in the decade – even if not very big.
Plan C: To have net zero impact on the environment in the decade.
Plan D: To shrink my carbon footprint.
Plan E: Not to grow my carbon footprint as much as I have in the past.
Plan F: To buy a Prius or equivalent.

Plan of Action:
  1. Identify the right questions.
  2. Find the answers.
  3. Use the answers to determine the most effective use of my time and abilities to help the environment.
  4. Use my time and abilities accordingly.
  5. Reassess periodically and change course as needed.
  6. Keep a blog to inform and inspire you.

Limitations:
  • I won’t do anything that jeopardizes my (or my family’s) health and safety.
  • I’ll maintain a healthy balance between work and home/family.
  • I won’t let the serious nature of this endeavor drag me (or my family, or anyone else) into a pit of depression.  These are 10 good years of my life – potentially 10%! – so I better have fun during this decade too.
  • I’ll maintain a sufficient income stream so as not to put a financial drain on my family.
  • Our family will still take vacations, even if it means emitting lots of CO2 on the flights (although we’ll probably feel more guilty about it).
  • I won’t take such extreme measures to reduce my personal carbon footprint that people refer to me as “that crazy lady.”
  • I won’t let politics defile the purity of my quest. Improving the environment helps our Republican and Democrat children and grandchildren alike.
  • I won’t judge friends and relatives for their negative impact on the environment, even if it turns out they’re doing some pretty harsh stuff (because probably so am I).

Writing a blog keeps me on task and honest. I’ll ‘fess up about everything to you. You’ll know how ignorant I am at the start, and hopefully how informed I become by the end. You’ll learn everything I learn, and hopefully you’ll get some sparks of ideas, bursts of inspiration, something to share with your kids, or at least where to get the best deal on a Prius. In return, I ask this of you:

Your Role:
  1. Weigh in. Share your thoughts and questions.   
  2. If you disagree, provide the support for why my statement or conclusion or citation to an alleged authority is dead wrong.  I’m starting from ground zero here, so may not get it all correct the first time.
  3. If you agree, do so heartily and publicly.

(I’ll probably add more to this list as the project continues.)


Allllllrighty! Let's do this thing!

Background

I recently turned 50, and had a full-on mid life crisis. If luck is with me, my life is now just half over. I thought, “What did I do in Part 1?” “What can I do with Part 2?” “How can I make a positive impact on the world?” “What will my legacy be?” Funny thing about turning 50 – it makes you reflect on where you’ve been, where you’re going, and what’s worthwhile in the end. If you’re not out buying a convertible sports car, that is.

My Life Part 1:  Impact Assessment
In My Life Part 1, I got to grow up in a loving home with wonderful parents and brothers.  School was a blast. Friends were outstanding. I found the husband of my dreams – soul mate, best friend, love of my life. I made some great kids with him. Love ‘em like crazy. I survived kidney failure, and a bunch of years on dialysis. I practiced law for 7 years, helping big companies sue each other for money. I left the law to work for a big dialysis company, helping other kidney patients like myself. Then in that job, I got to help my co-workers in their quest for fulfillment, life alignment and life balance. I gave to some charities – probably not enough to make a difference. I volunteered with some kidney and transplant organizations – again, probably not enough to make a difference. Hopefully I made some people’s lives better (at least more than I made them worse!).  

And for these 5 decades, I’ve enjoyed much of Earth’s bounties: 
  • Tumbling down the dunes at White Sands, New Mexico. 
  • Splashing in the cold waters of Barton Springs in Austin. 
  • Rafting on the Rio Grande. 
  • Snow camping on Mt. Shasta. 
  • Skiing at Squaw Valley. 
  • Cycling from Bar Habour, Maine, to Key West, Florida. 
  • Snorkeling off Green Island at the Great Barrier Reef, where I swear the exact same fish came up and wiggled its fin in front of me two days in a row.  
  • Paddle boarding on the crystal clear waters of Fallen Leaf Lake. 
  • Running in complete darkness on a footpath on Koh Phi Phi island in Thailand. 
  • Rock climbing at Castle Crag State Park. 
  • Riding horses through volcanic valleys in Ecuador. 
  • Lounging on Ipanema Beach in Rio.  
  • Swimming with dolphins in Roatan.  
  • Sitting on steps set in the hillside, applauding with hundreds of others as the sun set on the island of Santorini. 
  • Watching endless fields of rice paddies go by from a train in China. 
  • Trekking in the snow-capped mountains of Nepal. 
  • Watching lava flow on the Big Island, and smelling the intoxicating scent of wild tuberoses.

All in all, a fabulous first half of life. A “yea!” for me, but a “meh” for positive global impact. I have taken a lot from the Earth.

My Life Part 2: Impact Potential
Part 2. Here it is. The big Hawaii Five-Oh. Time to take stock. I’m a big stock-taker, by the way. My stock-taking was even featured in couple of chapters of a book by Po Bronson called What Should I Do With My Life? At that time, after getting kidney failure and a transplant, I took stock of my practice of the law. I decided to give that up and try to make a positive impact by giving back to other kidney patients. I did get to do that for a bunch of years. It was fulfilling at the time, but I feel like I’ve maxed out on that.

Ok, back to taking stock. So Life Part 1 was a net take, especially regarding the planet. I’m seeing signs that the Earth needs some serious protecting – possibly right away. I have been using it just a bit irresponsibly. It appears that My Life Part 2 needs to involve some giving back to Earth.

     Wait -- Isn’t Someone Else Already Taking Care of This?

Momentarily, the reflective 50-year old takes a back seat to the supremely lazy, rather tired 50 year-old. Hang on. I do want to make a difference for the planet. But is that really necessary? Do I have to worry about this? Aren’t there greenies or tree huggers or the good old US of A, or the World Environmental Council, or someone taking care of this issue? Didn’t it get resolved when An Inconvenient Truth came out? (By the way, where IS Al Gore? Why isn’t he out there fixing our planet problems?)

Maybe, hopefully, as I explore further I’ll find out that someone’s got it all worked out. I’ll learn that while appreciated, my help is not really necessary. But from what little I know so far, it seems that no one has really got this issue all buttoned up. The environment is Not. Being. Taken. Care Of.

     Not Qualified, But Still Compelled.

Probably, the more people who make the environment their issue, the better. But my lazy self pops up again.  Me? Am I a good candidate for taking on the environment? I have no experience in this area whatsoever. No knowledge. No expertise. No background. My lazy self folds her arms triumphantly. See? I am simply not qualified. The responsibility can in no way be mine.

And then the reflective self pushes her way back in. I feel compelled to make the environment my issue. It’s like that thing that sometimes happens when you’re a mom and have a household to maintain. If something’s not being taken care of, you (eventually) feel compelled.  Dirty laundry in the same spot on the floor for a week? I am there. Chocolate smeared across the fridge door? I’ll get it. Expired milk starting to stink? Removing it now. Daughter struggling with school project? Off to Michael’s for supplies. Birthday party? I’ll figure out a theme. Computer down? Calling my husband (compelled to delegate on that one).

And when I think of dedicating myself to helping the planet, the decision is easy. It feels right. Fulfilling. It’s the least I can do for my kids – heaven knows they’ll have to suffer the consequences of my generation’s planetary abuse much more than I will. And if I actually do make a difference, well, that will be enormously satisfying.

And so I have decided that I would devote my 6th decade (heck, longer if it’s going well) to doing all I can to make a positive impact on the environment of our precious planet.  

Thanks for your support!
-- Janelle