Environmental literature contains themes and ideas is about living our lives so that others, now and into the future, can also have good lives. It sounds simple, but actually sustainability can involve thinking in new ways and doing some things differently. My books are dedicated to trying to help readers think about important ideas that may help them move to living more sustainably. Below are a few ideas to think about.
The Good Life is an idea that’s been around for centuries. It isn’t really about just being happy, it’s also about taking care of others and our planet. The idea of the Good Life has been studied by psychologists who’ve found that there are two types of happiness. The first kind is about laughing and having a good time, but the second kind turns out to be stronger and last longer. That kind comes from caring about others and not just ourselves.
Greed is a problem. There can be a lot of peer pressure on us to live our lives in ways that aren’t very sustainable either for the planet or for other humans. Greed can also be a problem because we are bombarded by messages in the media about buying and owning things. We need to be careful consumers and think about how what we buy affects others and the planet.
Awareness is the first step toward being more sustainable. Learn as much as you can about where things come from and where they go when you’re done with them. All humans are part of interconnected systems, so try to learn about who else is in those systems with you and how your actions affect others.
Our planet is changing and there is much that we can do to help direct those changes in positive directions. I hope you’ll join me in working toward living a more sustainable life and help others to do that same.
The Good Life is an idea that’s been around for centuries. It isn’t really about just being happy, it’s also about taking care of others and our planet. The idea of the Good Life has been studied by psychologists who’ve found that there are two types of happiness. The first kind is about laughing and having a good time, but the second kind turns out to be stronger and last longer. That kind comes from caring about others and not just ourselves.
Greed is a problem. There can be a lot of peer pressure on us to live our lives in ways that aren’t very sustainable either for the planet or for other humans. Greed can also be a problem because we are bombarded by messages in the media about buying and owning things. We need to be careful consumers and think about how what we buy affects others and the planet.
Awareness is the first step toward being more sustainable. Learn as much as you can about where things come from and where they go when you’re done with them. All humans are part of interconnected systems, so try to learn about who else is in those systems with you and how your actions affect others.
Our planet is changing and there is much that we can do to help direct those changes in positive directions. I hope you’ll join me in working toward living a more sustainable life and help others to do that same.