Letter to my Planet

Happy Earth Day to all my fellow sharers of the planet! I’ve composed a small letter to Earth. Be warned that it’s sappy and rambling and honest.

Dear Planet – I haven’t stopped killing you slowly. I’m still driving my car, still making more garbage than recycling, and I made a very deliberate choice to use disposable diapers on my baby. I think about composting as one of those fascinating things I’ll never do. I like the concept of solar power, but except for my calculator, don’t use it. I’m wedded to the Internet and the power grid that feeds it. Still, my dear Planet, I haven’t stopped loving you, either. I’m crazy about your trees and mountains and critters. Even your waterways have a compelling beauty to me, despite the fact that I’m not into that whole immersion in water thing. I feel a little sick when I think about the way we’re sullying you, making you unusable for future generations, killing so many of your species and fouling your air. I’m really sorry about it. I want my little girl to be as in love with you as I am, and I’m afraid if you lose all your beauty that it will be very hard for her to love you as I do. What shall I do, Planet? How can I help preserve your pristine glory, even if only in pieces and parts? I think about that whole stewardship thing a lot. I don’t want to be the sort of steward who plunders, I want to be the sort of steward who manages and preserves. I sometimes think it’s hopeless for me to try to do anything to help, because I am so small, I am just one of billions of people working together to smother you. Then, I realize that even though we are all trying together, each in our own small way, to asphyxiate you, that you’re still breathing, so maybe if I can do my part you’ll get just enough air to keep on being your magnificent self a while longer. I’m not sure what my part is, though. Is it enough to “Do no harm” like the ancient Greek doctor says? I’m confused about what will truly help matters. My understanding of your complex nature isn’t very sophisticated, you see. I just don’t know. Still, despite everything, I want you to know that I am thinking of you, and that I still love you.

Kisses, Anarkey.