Climate change can seem like such an overwhelming issue, and it’s easy to throw your arms up and believe that you can’t do anything about it. It’s just so big.

Let’s begin then at the other end, with our relationship with nature. Climate change is a result of our complete disconnection from the natural world. But what, if not nature, is it that nourishes us and supports our life here on earth? If our planet earth turned into a desert, into a swamp, into a flooded ocean, or the skies turned murky and gray with pollution, we would perish. If, on the other hand, our soils are rich, the weather temperate and somewhat predictable, the air and our water are clean, then we can live a beautiful life. And that has everything to do with each one of us. With you!

Just refraining from throwing a paper cup out of the car window onto the road, just refraining from carelessly accepting a plastic straw and discarding it after one use, just refraining from idling your car while you bring out the trash or sit on the parking lot waiting for someone, just refraining from buying water in throw-away plastic bottles, just refraining from accepting another single use plastic bag – makes a difference. That tiny difference sends a signal that you care. And maybe next time you’ll care a bit more, and then a bit more yet. And that’s how you make a difference, and that’s how every movement begins. When someone cares.

We can all do something about working towards a more sacred relationship with nature, a relationship that honors and respects it. That’s where healing climate change begins.