At a recent Earth Circle, Cindy shared how research has shown that an exercise of writing a letter to the future, especially imagining family members living in the future, can motivate action better than information alone. What would your letter say?
by Cindy Ybarra
Dear Future
First a disclaimer: while I am extremely concerned about what human life will be like in 50 years, I find that my heart is most tightly bound to the natural world with its forests, seas, deserts and wildlife. I know I know… the earth will take care of itselfand some wildlife will still be around regardless of how poorly the next several decades are managed. But it hurts my heart to see the beauty, diversity, vitality I still see all around me, even in a diminished state and think that it could become unrecognizable before our children and their children reach my advanced age.
And art! I also know that whoever is still around will be creating beauty. But will they be able to conserve all the human-made beauty that has been such a gift by and to humankind through the ages up to the present?
Another thing I know is that whatever I do to offer something of value to you, Future, will be a drop in the ocean. A drop in the Universe. But I have decided to make it my mission to do all I can, and by that I mean every large and every miniscule thing I am capable of, to make things better for You. For them. All of them.
I will continue to protect and restore the land and wildlife habitat through the work of my hands and through all the support I am able to give to others who are doing the good work. I will continue to create community wherever I go so that reservoirs of connection, kindness, laughter, of people who know who they are and value those selves will be in place to face what is to come and serve as sanctuary for future generations from which to venture. And memory! Places where memory can be preserved and can survive, be built on to sustain, teach and delight. I would also like to create a way to inspire hope in my own human cohort in the here and now so that we will have the fortitude to keep on keeping on. A way to teach and jointly discover deep adaptation in the present and for the future. I’m not there yet but I’m working on it!
I have to apologize that this isn’t more poetic but with luck it will serve as my living will, one that I can upgrade and improve over whatever time is left me. I’m especially grateful to note that it has been a productive exercise, if nothing else, that has helped me close in on what I personally find to be the beauty and necessities that must be preserved.
So anyway, goodbye for now. I’ll stay in touch.
