In his novel, Ishmael, Daniel Quinn describes two cultures of people. Takers think and act on the premise that the world belongs to humans. Leavers behave as if humans belong to the world. Recognizing that you and I are most likely a mixture of the two, on balance which posture dominates your own actions?
The question has particular relevance this week. Unprecedented wild fires continue to burn and drought persists in our country’s west. The president’s trip highlighted Alaskan communities imperiled by melting glaciers, sea ice and permafrost. Anticipating conflicts over access to water, land and food, senior pentagon officials identified climate change as one of our country’s top security threats.
It is easy for us to view our individual footprint on the planet as inconsequential. After all, we are but one individual or family. However, when we add up all the energy that goes into creating and sustaining our ways of living and the effect of producing that energy on the quality of our land and air, the footprint increases considerably.
The planet’s growing population and our propensity to transform the earth’s crust into products of comfort and entertainment for the privileged rather than basic needs for all compound our imprint.
In a two-minute video gone viral Julia Roberts narrates the voice of Mother Earth speaking to humankind. It is a different spin on Ishmael’s takers or leavers. “I have fed species greater than you, and I have starved species greater than you. My oceans, my soil, my flowing streams, my forests…they all can take you or leave you.”
The concluding line is the compelling question for all of us: “I am prepared to evolve…are you?”
sacredlead 
Thank you – and LOVED the link to Julia Roberts – awesome !!!!
Recently a few friends and I sat at the end of a beautiful dock on the water and shared our thoughts about this very topic. One said earnestly, “I don’t have a very big footprint,” and went on to commiserate with those of us who also live here in this little town with reverence for its beauty. It is easy to look out at others who litter or consume tons of fuel or buy junk food made from Roundup ready corn and make a judgment that we are more conscious–more in touch with nature, or more caring of our precious environment and the lake we dangle our toes in all summer. Although I may also see myself as having a small footprint compared to someone else who doesn’t recycle or who puts their cigarettes out on a rock at the potholes or who doesn’t care if the food she eats is GMO or not… this conversation we shared on the dock challenges all of us to turn the mirror on ourselves and be accountable four our acts and our attitudes instead of comparing or pointing fingers or trying to get off the hook. Saying we don’t really have an impact or that our footprint isn’t really that significant is just passing the responsibility of our stewardship for this planet on to someone else. Thank you for reminding me of this, Bob. We each leave our mark on the Earth, small or big, and that impression does make a difference.
Thanks for sharing these conversations, Katie. No matter what our actual footprint, I think you expressed well the point of my post for each of us: turning the mirror on ourselves and being accountable for our acts. I know I have much to look at and consider in that regard. Thanks for all you are doing to leave life enriched by your presence and work; I celebrate your journey and the way your spiritual footprint is growing.
Oftentimes I think we feel the problem is so much bigger than us so instead of doing what we can, we do nothiing! However, if we each do something … it will help! Thanks for sharing the video, it is great!
Well said, Lisa. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for posting this video as it made me think more about why I am here and how I can leave a smaller footprint without being small.
Marianne Howard Sage Horse Coaching at Rider’s Edge Farm
mariannehoward2010@gmail.com http://www.sagehorsecoaching.com/ http://ridersedgefarm.com/ http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000013462697
Marianne, it seems to me that the footprint of our soul only contributes energy to the planet and being small in spirit does not serve life. My experience of you is that your spirit contributes loving and sustaining energy to all whom you touch. Blessings.