Hello

My Story

 

I created Sustain Yourself because of my concern about the climate crisis. And by concern, I mean living in a state of perpetual anxiety, terror, fury, and/or confusion about our warming planet.

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As concerned as I may be, I’m also a hypocrite. I buy the occasional to-go latte, indulge my anxiety-soothing habit of painting my nails, and purchase pre-made, plastic wrapped convenience foods in the grocery store. I’m committed to living more sustainably, but too often the lure of convenience and desire for pleasure win against the demands on my time and the heft of my to-do list.

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Apparently, I’m not alone. Research regularly shows that the majority of citizens believe climate change is a real threat, but they haven't done much to change their own behaviors. 

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That’s what fascinates me. There’s a cause and effect disconnect. Does getting a to-go coffee from Starbucks correlate with the melting ice shelf? Did my Amazon purchases contribute to the wildfires in Hawaii? Can my nail polish habit cause coral reef bleaching? Conversely, how can riding a bike instead of driving today save enough carbon dioxide to matter when we have to cut 22 Billion tons of CO2e (42% of the world’s current emissions) from the atmosphere by 2030 in order to keep warming to 1.5 degrees celsius? 

 

If I knew swearing off Starbucks and single use anything would prevent superstorms, droughts and suffering, I’d do it. So why haven’t I? Because I believe I’m too small and insignificant to make any kind of a difference against a problem and forces that are so much bigger than I am. 

 

If that’s true, then why not give up already and find another cause where I can actually make a difference? Because my body tells me to keep going. The tears I shed watching the carnage of the Maui wildfires tell me to keep reducing my footprint. The tightening I feel in my chest when I learn Antarctica is missing an Argentina-sized chunk of ice tells me to keep reading, understanding, writing. The frustration that pounds its fists into my temples when Argentina elects a climate denying, water-privitizing, pro-pollution president tells me I can’t give up.  

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So here’s the paradox I’m left with: any actions I make individually won’t solve the climate crisis, but we can’t solve the climate crisis until and unless enough of us take individual action to live more sustainably and demand change. In this way, my actions do matter, and so do yours. 

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Is there still time? There is. Is it likely we’ll cap warming to 1.5 degrees? Not very. Is it worth fighting to keep warming as minimal as possible? Ask your great, great grandchildren. They’ll say yes. 

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I hope you do, too.

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Love,

Shannon