Thankful Thoughts

/ Post by Erica Wills of Polar Bears International

As 2012 has come to an end (sans apocalypse, of course), people are beginning to reflect on the things we are each thankful for. I have a lot to be thankful for this year — this fellowship with explore.org being one of them! — and that includes you, the reader.

I’m thankful for you, dear reader, for all the things you do to help the polar bears. All those little things that don’t seem very important or world-changing — buying local and organic, utilizing reusable water-bottles, participating in Meatless Mondays, recycling, carpooling — all of that stuff does matter. Everybody says that to make a real, long-lasting difference for the bears, it’s going to take big action: political and social change, new and revised laws, governments working together, etc. And that’s true.

But, to quote J.R.R. Tolkien, this is also true: even the smallest action can change the course of the future. The more you commit to those small actions, the easier it will be to commit to bigger actions, like minimizing consumption, buying EnergySmart appliances, investing in an electric/hybrid car, and encouraging your friends and family to follow suit.

For all the actions you have taken, little and big, I thank you for it. The polar bears thank you for it. Most importantly, future generations will thank you for it when they have a healthy, sustainable planet to call home.