I am glad to have the opportunity to take a few minutes to return to my reflection spot. Not a whole lot has changed since I last sat here by my fountain, but I can spot some subtle differences. On my way here, I saw many cheerful yellow daffodils sprouting from the February ground. Their bright trumpets appear to be heralding the beginning of spring rather early this year. Walking around campus, I have noticed several trees blossoming weeks earlier than they did last year. In this respite from the torrential rains, swirls of evaporation waft from the puddles around me. I wonder if the extreme weather conditions we have been experiencing and the early signs of spring can be attributed to global warming, coincidence, or whether it is not actually that early to be entering the spring season. Part of me is inclined to simply appreciate the joys of nature’s early gifts. However, I can’t help but be concerned about the increasing threat of humans contributing to harmful environmental conditions.
I let my mind wander to our discussion by the river last week. I am still unsettled by the conclusion that we came to towards the end of our talk: the earnest effort to seek more sustainable consumption and production habits will likely not occur until it is an absolute necessity. Humans are robbing the rest of the environment and future generations from the benefits of adopting sustainable practices before the situation has spiraled out of control. What will be the breaking point that will eventually push us to change our ways? How many plant and animal species will die off in the meantime? How many of those will have medicinal properties that we will never discover? These questions leave me yearning for an answer, or some power to make a change. If only people could be convinced that today is the day to make a change if we are to preserve the environment for the future. This reminds me of a tidbit of wisdom I recently read in a book: Not even a day. This simple phrase means that when a person perceives that action is required, they do not let even one day pass before taking the required action. If this practice was applied to our environmental predicament, we could start making effective sustainable changes now before the situation worsens further.