This week I did something that I haven't done in awhile: took a walk in a park. Honestly I cannot tell you the last time that I truly took the time to be outside and just walk- without a plan, without an end goal, without a desired outcome. I simply walked.
I went with my cousin and as we walked we talked about the various times in our lives that we have been at this specific park- kindergarten, middle school, high school, etc. It seemed that no matter where our lives took us, the park was always there. Its quiet paths and towering trees. No matter where we found ourselves, the park always seemed to stay the same. The key word being "seemed".
As we walked, we came across a stream and were immediately frozen in our tracks. A stream that was once filled with water was nothing but a trickle of water. We chalked it up to drought like temperatures over the last few days and continued on in search of the larger stream that ran through the park. We reminisced about the days we spent wading in the water and all of the memories we had from childhood about coming to the park. Then we found the stream.
Again, we were silenced. My cousin finally said, "do you remember there being more water?" I tried to think back to the last time I was there- only a few years ago- and I agreed that there definitely was more water. We tried to determine if it was just our memories that were playing tricks on us, or if there really was less water. As we began to walk down stream, it was evident that there in fact was less water.
This sparked an interesting conversation. We began to talk about water conservation and how we don't even realize what we are doing to our planet. We began to talk about how we always hear about the effects of humanity's lack of consideration for our planet, but we have never truly seen it first-hand, yet here we were seeing a place we loved, literally wasting away.
As we walked I began to wonder how long this has been going on. Then I began to wonder how much of it would be left the next time I came. This park was a place where my father came with his parents and then where he took me as a child. It was where my aunt had her wedding photos taken and where I went on a first date. I went on field trips there and vividly remember being in kindergarten and releasing tadpoles into a pond that has since disappeared to be replaced with dried and cracked soil. Then I began to think of my children. Will the park even be there by the time it is my turn to take them to the park and say, this is where my dad taught me to play tennis or this is where I learned how to track animal prints?
It's easy to say, "hey, you need to recycle or you really should conserve water." The difficult thing is to educate yourself. This is just one instance of how our world and environment is changing. The environment is only one topic that you should take the time to educate yourself on. You would be surprised how much there is that you really don't know. From contaminated water to global warming. There are things that are happening around you without you even knowing.
In the area I live in, a prosecutor is taking a company to court over ground/water contamination that happened back in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, although, the effects are being felt today through cancer and other sicknesses. However, if it weren't for a few Facebook posts and a little more research, I wouldn't know anything and would continue drinking the water, giving my pets the water, etc.
Between the election, environmental issues, global concerns, homeland security issues, economic matters, the list could go on: we are in no position to remain uneducated. You need to step up and take responsibility for your education. No one is going to spoon-feed you the information or help you determine where your interests lie. You need to truly take the time to sit down and do your research. Start small. Figure out which issues you worry about the most and start reading articles, listening to debates, figuring out which politicians locally you align with.
Our time here is very limited: however, the legacy we leave behind is forever. God willing, 100 years from now, students will be sitting in their history classes hearing about the people who lived in 2016 like we learned about the people who lived in 1816 and 1916. Your legacy will long outlive you. How do you want our society to be remembered?
Take the time to educate yourself on the issues that are in the news. Figure out if you agree with gun control. Determine which economical issues concern you the most and how you think the government and your local politicians should work to improve the economy. Figure out which environmental issues concern you the most and figure out which plans you back and which one's you don't support.
We no longer can stand by while people in authority make all of the decisions for us. You need to take a stand and take the time to educate yourself on the issues that effect you and impact you the most. You need to take the time to figure out what you stand for and what you fall for. You need to figure out what issues you support and which ones you don't and why. It is not enough to say, "I want to see a world where the environment is taken care of." You need to say," " I want to see a world where environmental policies are put in place to ensure that my kids and their kids will have a place to experience and enjoy nature."
Figure out where your concerns lie and start there. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Educate yourself, my future grandchildren thank you.
