Big plans, small plans -- make some positive 2022 plans

Can we all live like Rob Greenfield? Of course not, you think. And then you ask, Who is Rob Greenfield, anyway?

He's an activist and a humanitarian. He lives extremely simply and sustainably and encourages us to do the same. He shows us that it can be done and why it should be done. The real question isn't, Can we all live like Rob Greenfield? because the answer is, Yes, a human being can live like that, as Greenfield himself is proving every day. It's unrealistic, though, to think everyone can take on the same level of activism when our society isn't built around it, and we have a diverse array of priorities competing for our time and energy.  

The real question is, What parts of Rob Greenfield's lifestyle could you incorporate into your own so you can be some of the change you want to see in the world? If you can't live off the grid with just 44 possessions and forage or grow 100% of your food, what less extreme steps could you take to reduce your impact on the planet and improve living conditions for people less fortunate than you?

Greenfield recently announced the big plans his nonprofit organization, Regeneration, Equity and Justice, has for 2022, which include traveling the country to:

• Kickstart 10,000 gardens for those who lack access to healthy food.
• Plant 1,000 community fruit trees in public spaces.
• Start 100 community compost programs.
• Produce 50+ original videos featuring people changing the world for the better.

The organization's work is inspiring, and I'm looking forward to following their progress. In the meantime, I recommend you go to Greenfield's website, robgreenfield.org, and check out the Resources menu, where he's broken the many facets of his sustainable living into smaller, more doable pieces. You might find you can follow in his footsteps for using less water (something I've talked about), staying sane in the digital world, being a positive influence on others, or reducing food waste in your home and your community, to name just a few.

You may not agree with all of Greenfield's views or choices, and most of us would find it difficult to do everything he's doing, but it's obvious he's making positive changes in the world around him, and that is something we can all do in one small way or another.

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