Somebody Tell Me “What Is Sustainability?”

True Sustainability Flows Endlessly

Sustainability is one of the big buzzwords of our modern time. Say it loud and proud one time “SUSTAINABILITY”, sure does bring an overwhelming flood of positive thought & feeling; maybe a tinge of sadness due to the state of the environment.   However, we wouldn’t have the “sustainability” movement if things weren’t so out of balance would we?

What is sustainability?

I think the majority of people relate sustainability to the idea of continuation, the ability to keep going.  Notions like organic, healthy, recycling, solar panels, or earth conscious also come swirling into the mix.  Uplifting idea isn’t it?  The thought that we participate in things that continually perpetuate or that the things we do aren’t harming anything.   It is an understandable desire and one worth striving for.   Who wants to think of themselves as being an abusive destructive type of person?

It wouldn’t be a stretch of the imagination to assume that anyone reading this article is aware of the resource situation in our present day.  We could be discussing fresh water, fish, sand, oil, coltan, topsoil, or trees and the discussion would deserve to include the present levels of availability and the declining level of sustainability.  Violence and corruption would also deserve a nod in that conversation but that is another article.

Addicts can’t begin the healing process until that first step is taken, a moment of honesty with themselves where they acknowledge their self-destructive behavior.  An addict has got reasons for being an addict.  A person from the outside can easily assess the situation and come to the conclusion that they need to stop, today.  How easy is it to offer a heart felt “Stop today you are ruining your life and making the people around you miserable.”?

Non-addicts can often see the simple solution; the simple solution for an addict is looming like Mt. Everest.

The honest truth is that our modern way of living is comparable to an addict living in denial, always asserting that everything is fine.  There is nothing to worry about we have it all under control.  The addict doesn’t see a problem and most of us don't either.  When the addiction starts to be acknowledged there are a million reasons to not change immediately; possibly consider making those changes in the ever receding near future.  Maybe the solution is to drink ¾ of bottle instead of the whole bottle.  Maybe the solution is to use recyclable bags instead of plastic bags when we shop.  The problem isn’t shopping or consumption, it is those darn bags.

Does that sting, slightly irritate?

Everyone keep calm, each step is a step and should be given the credit it deserves.  It is wonderful that people are making choices that are more positive in an environmental sense.  Question is positive compared to what?  As a culture we like to pick out the worst situation and then we do something better and say “look, we did it”.  If an infinite being is drinking poison, a poison that at full strength would kill them instantly and they dilute it so they die in 3 days is that something to really celebrate?  An infinite being of light and love enjoying everything endlessly opts to die in 3 days instead of instantly isn't a celebration of any kind, its insanity.

We are killing ourselves and destroying the opportunity for generations to come.  Recyclable bags may squeeze out a couple more days but in the grand scheme it isn’t much of an achievement in terms of sustainable habitual change.  It takes a particular mindset to believe that recyclable bags are an achievement to be shouted from the mountain tops.

Positivity is great until it hampers and hinders.  To much of anything can be damaging, including positive thinking.  Let me be clear, I am referring to positive thinking that covers up aspects of reality that need serious attention.  Issues that avoided due to the harsh honesty they are due and because of this “only be positive” mantra we aren't given the space to get down and dirty.  There isn't anything wrong with being clear about what is what.  There is no one sided mountain in the world.  Positivity itself represents that proverbial one sided mountain.  Sure it feels good to be positive but limiting our reality and actions by human emotion can be dangerous.  Feeling good isn't as important as doing what needs to be done.