Rights vs Responsibilities

The climate strikes are about to occur and I wonder how many people will show. I have decided to take the day off and drag my middle schooler along. I often wonder whether it makes a difference but we recently witnessed the power of people overthrow a leader, and I think it has to matter. I created a series of earrings while thinking about the planet this weekend. Recently I heard a Native person speak on Youtube and he said “We often talk about our rights, but what about our responsibilities?” It really struck me. He discussed how it might be a very different country had they created a Bill of Responsibility over a Bill of Rights. I was at the store and asked the cashier why they ask everyone if they want a bag and he said people get angry when they don’t offer a bag. Huh, I guess that is our entitlement in a nutshell. The funny thing is, most everyone was walking to the counter easily carrying their item in-hand and mindlessly taking a bag. Oh I know, the response of “I reuse it.” Well, guess where it ends up after your kid takes it to school full of smaller plastic baggies? If you recycle it at the grocery store, do you realize it can only be recycled so many times?

I have also been thinking about perfect vs imperfect. I can do so much more. We can do so much more. How do I not drive myself insane with guilt for the way I live? I am beyond imperfect. I guess I am hopeful we wake up to the little things we can improve. Let’s stop being sheep and following the routine of:

“Would you like a bag?”

“Yes, thank you.”

It is our responsibility to change our habits for the benefit of everyone. It is not our right to destroy the planet because we cannot be inconvenienced or much worse, mindlessly following a routine.

So I spent the weekend sanding the real and imperfect reclaimed wood so that I do not contribute further to the destruction of resources for the laser wood that cuts perfectly.

Start at 2 min. 37 seconds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqfvUA2vRAM&list=LL45io2lQqO_St6H0S5PnsbQ