…I have spent 63 years trying to cultivate hope, but my thoughts wander in this direction too often these days. Why protect the wildflowers that grow in our yard when all the emerald yards nearby are drenched in herbicides and when their purely ornamental shrubs are drenched in insecticides? Why trouble myself to keep the stock-tank ponds filled with water when every spring there are fewer and fewer tree frogs who might need a nursery for their eggs? Why turn off the lights to protect nocturnal creatures when all around me the houses are lit up like airport runways? Why bother to plant saplings when a builder will only cut them down later, after my husband and I are gone, to make room for yet another foolishly large house that glows in the dark? …
More and more I find it hard not to ask the question I have spent my adult life avoiding: What is the point of even trying? …
At my lowest, I have never entirely given up my faith that good people working together can change the world for the better. When I have been downhearted in the past, I have always explained to myself that I am not alone in my efforts to cultivate change — by writing, by planting, by loving the living world in every way I can find to love it. Individual efforts gather momentum through the individual efforts of others…
In saving the leaves for the moths and the fireflies and the dark-eyed juncos, I am still trying. And in the trying perhaps I can save my own soul.
— Margaret Renkl, from “How to Keep Your Own Soul Safe in the Dark” (NY Times, December 9, 2024)
I like these work
Yes. Me too.
Deep breath…
Deep *sigh*…
Recommit to having Hope…
Recommit to keep moving forward…
…trying to do the right things.
PK
Exactly!
Okay thank you🙏💕
never stop trying
And THAT is the moral of the story!
Good for her, and good for us that she’s like that.
So agree Anneli.
With great sorrow…we see the changes…fewer bees, birds, raccoons, opossums, deer, tree frogs, insects , ( No Shortage in Wild Turkeys) we’ve not seen a humming bird Moth for a few years, (though it is possible that our timing was off by a few minutes in the later dusk of evening – where it feeds on the tall, white stock & the deep purple, vanilla scented Helitrophe, etc… we did paint the house in Aug/Sept of 2022 & a neighbor a few doors down who painted a year or two before us, said she also noticed a decline in the bees, as well. We do have a diverse variety of flowers, vegges, trees & other plant matter,water sources, that house and feed God’s creatures…We do have a diverse eco -system that welcomes…We will continue to make available, habitat for lives…We delight in the visitors that frequent our Oasis…(PS: We have many varieties of Bees though not the volume since we painted)
“At my lowest, I have never entirely given up my faith that good people working together can change the world for the better.” I’m glad that Margaret Renkl,, is Holding On To HOPE! I’ve always liked the pieces of Margaret Renki that you’ve share.d..
PS: when our house was blue different varieties of Moths, would sleep in the protection on the siding of the porch…now that the house is tan color we don’t see that…Now that the neighbor’s had there dying tree cut down (this Fall) we no longer see the trio of ” Pterodactyl” headed Pileated Woodpecker’s though we still hear and sometimes see the Owls 🙂
Beautiful (even when tinged with sadness). Thank you for sharing.
Believe: good people working together can change the world
Yes!
Even though we’ve had frost, fog and cold…he picked the remaining tomatoes (we took most of the plants out the end of October) though not the cherry tomatoes, & a few other tomato plants… they picked the last peppers a few days back and today I engaged in delightment, as we walked through the yard finding the last blooming flowers…for a bright bouquet. Unreal, that at this time of year we’re still receiving nourishment and beauty from our garden….we’re thankful for the gifts!
Yesterday, he used blackberries (frozen from the year before season) to make a batch of banana, blackberry muffins – so good…. I forgot to sign my previous comment and thank you for your reply…
Beautiful Christie. I thought it was you but didn’t want to call it out. Thanks!
So touching… and good to know there are others like me. We are not alone… and there is hope.
Yes Val. Exactly.
At 63, I would think the question “why” is for kids. At that age, I would think to just do it. For your sake.
yes. exactly Maria.
I think there are a lot of people remembering gratitude without an attitude. It’s hard right now – too hard. To find solace in Nature, and remembering that indeed, there are others who feel the same way. Navigating through the fear and anger and then watch a sunrise.
That about captures it Mimi. Right there.
I do wonder David if there is such a thing as too late?
Hi Julian. I’ve been thinking exactly that for some time. It creeps in and out. I’m afraid with the state of our politics (every person for themselves) we are heading to a darker place. Yet, I can’t live my days thinking it is too late, at least in order to keep my sanity. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Thank you sir. And to you too.
Yes.
That’s it. That’s the reply.
Just. All. YES.
2 thoughts: At 63 or older one shouldn’t even ask those questions. Let’s just DO IT, let HOPE live, it’s all that we’ve got – and do every good deed possible while it IS still possible. I pity you ppl more than I can say, every reading of newspapers renders me more dispirited; I even stop reading stuff about the un-united divided states of A, because I can’t bear it any more.
But I have to say, I always liked and still like Ms Renkl very much!
Hi Kiki. On the ground it feels far less division than you would gather from reading the press. However, given that we all hang around those who think like we do probably a lot of confirmation bias going on. Happy Holidays!
Yep, you’re right, of course.
Happy Christmas Season to you and yours and long may we comment on each other’s failures and joys!
What a beautiful thought:’ In saving the leaves for the moths, the fireflies, and the dark-eyed juncos, I am still trying. And in the trying, perhaps I can save my own soul.’
Me too Indira!