Dear K
Today we asked you what you were grateful for. You told us "Getting pears and apples in backpack” You are 26 mo. old. It's been 2 months since we picked pears and apples in our yard (and you collected them in your backpack). Yet you enjoyed it so much that you remembered it out of the blue, two months later.
You love pears and apples from the yard, watching deer, fox and birds out the window of our house, finding flowers, picking berries, “hiking a mountain” as you like to say... so many beautiful natural things that may exist in a totally different way in 2050, and some that may not exist at all if the changing climate continues on its current course.
In my life time I have seen intense wildfires go from being 2-3 times a decade to being almost annual, and more extreme.
When I was a kid growing up in the south, we used to talk about Hurricane Camille-the big hurricane that hit the Gulf coast 20 years prior. Now we talk about the multiple large hurricanes that have caused massive destruction in the last 15 years, like Katrina, Rita, Harvey, Irma, Michael.
I have seen increasing thunderstorms in Alaska, warmer winters with less snow in Montana, dryer summers across the western US. An Aussie friend currently has family and friends dealing with massive bushfires in Australia, exacerbated by record-breaking temperatures and severe drought.
It's scary to think about so many beautiful things that we love changing irreversibly, and about the disaster to ecosystems and to human lives that are being, and will continue to be caused as a result. I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all. And I wonder what I, one person, could do to make a difference.
But then I look at you. I see your small eyes filled with wonder. I see you get excited about so many small things that I often don't even see anymore - like the patterns of lichen on a rock, a small bug crossing the trail, or a flower smaller than my pinky fingernail. And it makes me remember how I, too, used to be full of wonder, and passion for the world - around me.
And when we're brave enough to talk about it, I find that there are so many others who still have wonder and love for this beautiful, complex world, and who want to do something to help protect it.
So what can we do? This letter is a commitment to you.
First: We're already doing a lot of things in our lives to try to reduce our footprint like composting, reusing,recycling, trying to find things we need used before buying new (and if we can't find it used, reconsider whether we actually need it), biking or walking instead of driving when we can, turning off lights, not using hot water if we don't need it, turning off water when we brush teeth or wash dishes, working to make our house more energy efficient, trying to buy/grow/harvest mostly local food...
We will continue to do these things, and keep looking for ways to do things better.
Second: I commit to getting more involved with other people surrounding this issue. Because, as they said in Star Wars (your dad and I just geeked out on Star Wars, episode IX), “They win by making you think you're alone.” “We're not.”. “Be willing to call for help. Be willing to fight alongside others. When you do, you're not alone. You have a powerful team with you."
Being involved in a group surrounding a controversial issue is hard for me for several reasons:
1- I'm an introvert
2- I don't like politics
3- I don't like uncomfortable confrontations
4- Time is a very valuable thing,and I already feel I don't have enough. So finding time/ resources to put towards another group will be challenging
But I think it will be the most helpful thing we can do at this point because a group will:
1- Help provide inspiration when we're feeling low about the state of the climate
2-- Help generate new ideas
3- When people share their stories and concerns (scary as it is), they can touch so many more lives than just keeping things to themselves.
And Third: Maybe most importantly, I pledge to try to keep the wonder alive. To experience and enjoy this incredible, complicated earth. Because letting our fears overtake the wonder of so much beauty surrounding us right now, would be a huge tragedy in itself.
And maybe our wonder will help others enjoy the natural world (much like your wonder does for me). Then maybe, more people will want to protect it, too.
With all my love and hope,
Mama
This letter was collected as part of DearTomorrow Missoula, a partnership between Families for a Livable Climate and Climate Smart Missoula with DearTomorrow, an award-winning climate storytelling project where people write messages to loved ones living in the future. Messages are shared now at deartomorrow.org and through social media, public talks, community events, and public art to inspire deep thinking and bold action on climate.