Redefining the Meaning of Wealth

“Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.” ~Ancient Indian Proverb

I like the Native American Philosophy. They view the earth as a living entity and as a provider, not a playground to pillage for monetary profit.   Harmony with the earth is  part of their culture and they are extremely aware of how certain actions can impact the environment. They believe the earth is part of us and we should respect it. It’s not something to use up nor is it here  to serve us. The earth is a great resource but we have to treat her with respect. We are part of her and there is no separation. All of us Non-Native Americans should take a lesson from their playbook.  That said, let me segue into the horrendous topic of the British Petroleum (BP) oil spill.

The recent BP tragedy in the Gulf is almost more than I can bear to contemplate. I purposely waited several weeks before I posted this piece. I figured at some point the story would gradually start to fade off the front pages and only be mentioned from time to time.  This story needs to be kept alive and all that continue to suffer need not be forgotten. I grew up in Alabama and my husband in Louisiana. The Gulf was a familiar fixture to us and even though we may not have lived within walking distance, she was still one of our greatest local treasures.

Many Americans have never had the chance to visit the national treasure we call the Gulf of  Mexico or “The Redneck Riviera” as it is often jokingly referred to by some.  There was a reason why many southerners chose to stay close to home when we wanted to visit the beach. Why travel to other exotic locations when Paradise was just a few hours away?

I remember going to visit her almost yearly. The sand was as white as snow and the water was a pristine blue or emerald green depending on the mood of the sun that day.  Many sandcastles have been built on her precious sand and many wonderful days have been spent by adults and children alike playing in her waves.

She has withstood hurricanes and various other acts of God because that is what she is equipped to do. Then some multinational corporation comes in and gets horrendously greedy and sloppy.  Now she is vulnerable to possibly being on the verge of ruin.

I hope she will one day return to her natural beauty and her plants, fish, and various other wildlife will once again reign supreme in that area of the planet. For the time being I can only pray for her safe return and for a change in consciousness amongst us all. The beauty of the earth and the natural resources we have been blessed with are a  huge part of our wealth.

We need to rethink the way we are living and have a serious discussion about our addiction to fossil fuels. Change is necessary or our quality of life is further at stake.  Yes, change is difficult and many will resist. But change is the only constant in this world. We will always have to adapt and change.  The sooner we get it through our thick skulls that real change is needed, the easier it will be to start the process.  Oh and Tony Hayward, if by some small minuscule chance you read this, I would like my life back too.  I  am no longer able to visit the beautiful beaches where I spent so much of my childhood. They are most likely ruined and will not recover in my lifetime if they ever recover at all.  I would like that part of my life back.