Significantly Yours

       How significant are you?

Did you ever wonder if anything you did mattered? Have you ever slid into the “OH, whatever, what can I do?” zone? I have. One easy way I snap out of that dark attitude is to remember to greet others warmly, smile, and give someone that looks like they need a little more of my time, a little more of it. Maybe, in this small way, I can make someone else’s day a little better. To me, this is significant.

There is also one issue that makes everything we do, each day, significant. We were born and now live in the age of human caused climate change. Since the dawn of our creation, except for the birth of Jesus Christ, this is man’s most significant moment. We are the ones, like it or not, who will enhance or degrade the climate for generations to come. We are and will be the most important generation ever to live, eat, and breathe on Mother Earth. Not to put too much pressure on but, I think that is significant.

We can work together and do the individual things like properly recycling our refrigerators, driving and flying a little less, insulating our homes, putting LED bulbs in our lighting fixtures, and maybe even make our next car a hybrid. These are just a few ways to take a bite out of climate change. These efforts, when we do them collectively, are multiplied. In the military, we call this synergy a “force multiplier”. Thus, the little things you do are significant. When you get up in the morning, and you are looking in the mirror, you might just smile and greet yourself with, “Darn if you don’t look mighty significant!”

Another way you may want to be significant is to vote. We know a few votes can make a huge difference. I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. My bumper sticker says,” Climate Voter”.

Since all the major reputable science organizations on the planet say it is time to get serious about climate, I make it my number one priority and vote accordingly. It is the hope of earth’s 500 climate organizations that all political parties will join to fight mankind’s biggest battle for survival. Until then, I vote my conscience. I vote to protect our kids’ future whatever the party.

Before elections there are many political ads, many bought with dark money, that skillfully and deceptively play with our emotions. It is hard to know who is lying and who isn’t.

In respect to conservation and climate change there is one organization that painstakingly researches and rates politicians on their record protecting, our water, our air, and our climate. It is called the League of Conservation Voters. *

 LCV diligently tracks the voting, and the positions politicians take on clean air, clean water, and the climate. Then, they tally up the votes and create a scorecard. From this, they endorse a few candidates. This is a straightforward means of judging where a candidate stands on our kids’ future.

LCV endorses Tammy Baldwin, Debbie Stabenow, and Matt Morgan.

Are you doing anything significant on the 6th of November?  Perhaps when you greet yourself at your mirror, you can say, “I am going to do something real significant today. I am going to vote!”. Then smile!

*  https://lcv.org

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