What Kind of Legacy Do You Want to Leave?

Image 1: Litter piled at a lake; Image 2: Walk-in fishing pond along Lotus Loop Trail at Hitchcock Nature Center.

Even though the issues facing our environment and ultimately our health and wellbeing can be vast and sometimes overwhelming, there is hope: Your choices DO make a difference.

Below are some ideas to help you make better choices for yourself, your legacy, and yes—YOUR environment!

“Every drop in the ocean counts.”

— Yoko Ono

Your decisions make a difference. Even if it’s deciding to use a reusable or a disposable cup, your choices add up and compound with the actions of those around you (take another look at the first image). Don’t forget that your decisions influence others’ decisions too, whether you know it or not.

“I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.”

— Lily Tomlin

It may not be easy, but the things most worth doing rarely are. This might be contacting a business or political leader about an environmental issue, cleaning up your neighborhood or county park, choosing to use or not use a product, or even talking to those around you about how their decisions can help or hurt.

“Ethical behavior is doing the right thing when no one else is watching—even when doing the wrong thing is legal.”

— Aldo Leopold

Humans have an innate understanding of what is good and what isn’t. It might be looking at the images above and knowing that the second image is good, or understanding that a decision that benefits us but hurts someone else isn’t. Integrity, ethics, and personal responsibility are qualities we all have within us, and it’s up to us to let them lead in our lives, or not.

"All advocacy is, at its core, an exercise in empathy."

— Samantha Power

Being a strong and reliable advocate requires a deep understanding of a cause, including how it may be perceived by others.  Digging into the details—which takes time and can require challenging our own beliefs—creates an empathetic perspective that allows us to make better-informed decisions and ultimately have more impactful conversations with others that can lead to change.

"Only when I saw the Earth from space, in all its ineffable beauty and fragility, did I realize that humankind's most urgent task is to cherish and preserve it for future generations."

— Sigmund Jähn

In today’s increasingly complex world, where discoveries and technologies are being made every day, staying “down to earth” is getting more and more difficult. As our minds float in the virtual clouds, we can forget about all the magnificent cogs in place that make it possible for us to even exist on this marvelous planet. Let’s make sure that as society progresses, we remain humble and push each other to do what we can to protect and enhance this beautiful and fragile home of ours.

So…Which image will be your legacy?

Want to do something to improve your public lands? Click here to explore our spring park cleanup events and needs.