“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” John Muir
I went to a friend’s graduation a month ago and the provost of the college began his speech by honoring the native lands on which the college stood. In his speech he brought up the popular “7 generations” mentality that native American communities embody.
This “7 generations” philosophy is the idea that we should consider the impact of our actions on the 7 generations to follow us. It is the idea that decisions made today should be made in such a way that our grandchildren’s grandchildren’s grandchildren’s children (7 generations) will also be able to prosper.
In theory, this philosophy redirects the way we use our money, spend our time, and treat our earth. It is the infinite game mentality.
But in the western world, the dominant philosophy is often the opposite: Follow YOUR dream, spend time the way YOU want, make money to buy things for YOU, and do what makes YOU happy, TODAY. It is very self-centered and heavily fueled by instant gratification.
I’m not here to judge this culture as right or wrong, good or bad. Heck, I grew up in America and have been privileged enough to enjoy the luxuries of instant gratification. I know how addicting it can be.
But when we treat the natural world with the same mindset, it is clear that 3, much less 7, generations from now will not be able to experience the same ocean or forest or fields or biodiversity that is on the earth today.
This quote by John Muir says it all: we are all linked together, here on this earth. And the actions that each of us make today cannot be separated from the future of our great-great-great-great-great-grandchildren.
So here’s my challenge for us. When you think about your life and the decisions you make, big and small, ask yourself: am I living for myself?
Or am I living for my children, and their children, and their children (and on and on for 7 generations) and the life that I would want them to live?
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