This Earth Day, Keep Calm and Cleanup
Photo from BBC Science Focus
Greetings THNC families!
A number of years ago, I was a young outdoor educator in the salty misty redwoods of Santa Cruz, participating in a training program called “The Art of Mentoring,” with nature connection mentor, Jon Young. Jon told a story about a retreat he led where a group of young men were visiting one of his own mentors, Lakota elder, Gilbert Walkingbull.
The teens were working very hard each day, but at some point in the retreat, the elder addressed them in a surprising way, “You boys are all here crying by the fire every night about the state of the world and what you’re going to do about it. Then I look at your cars.”
Everyone looked up.
Gilbert continued, “Each and every one of your cars is a mess. There’s trash piled up in the seats, empty food containers on the floor. I don’t know how you can even see through the window shields to drive.” The boys’ expressions went from those of confusion to sheepishness. “You’re all here wanting to be spiritual,” Walkingbull concluded, “and you can’t even keep your own cars clean. If you want to be spiritual, start by cleaning out your cars.”
I’ve never forgotten that story. What I took from Walkingbull’s words was that in the effort to do good work in the world, it’s sometimes easier to reach for what needs to be done “out there,” than to address the small but important details of what’s right in front of you.
As I pursue deeper connections within the natural world, I am reminded over again that relationships are what the Earth is made of. And in order to have a good relationship, you must greet, thank, and care for your relations. I think what Gilbert Walkingbull was getting at was that our relationships within Nature include everything, even the vehicles which - like a giant metallic snail’s shell in this modern world - carry you, shelter you, and often store a bunch of your important stuff.
As the scale of troubles in the world right now feels large and often intangible, I think it’s important to “Keep calm and carry on” as activist and author, Starhawk recently suggested. To me that means continuing on with the work of life on all scales while standing up for what is right. The way we tend the closest corners in our lives replicates and expands like DNA as a pattern for how we show up in groups, offices, neighborhoods, and society. To show up clean, clear, and with integrity for the bigger work, here are a few simple activities to celebrate Earth Day at home:
Family Clean-Up Party
Clean-up time can be a special interlude of music, movement, and fun for everyone. It’s often as easy as singing a song. At home, we sing the words “Clean up, put away” over and over in a catchy tune, and the children get into the groove even if that just means wandering around happily while we get some dishes and toys put away.
Weeding Contest
Weeds are abundant right now, and while the earth is still soft from recent rains, why not grab a bucket, some butter knives and a kids’ sized spade for a family weeding party? Recently, the kids in our Learning Lab earned a nickel for every weed they presented (Rule: roots must be attached!), and with their earnings they get to pick and buy their own seeds.
Online Shopping Detox
One of the silent obstacles to keeping a tidy, calm home is a constant influx of goods coming into our homes, made much easier by online shopping services. Consider trying a week without purchasing anything other than food online. When you do return to that big shopping mall in the ether, consider the following questions before you hit the “Buy Now” button:
Will I use this often and for a long time?
If it’s a one-time thing, can I borrow this from a friend or neighbor?
If I need to buy it, can I buy it secondhand?