by Expand Your Consciousness
Our countless daily choices are influenced by the cultures we live in and our personal world views. We may each have a personal “eco-philosophy” and not even realize it. We share articles on a wide range of topics such as personal motivations, scientific research, schools of thought, etc. that might be thought-provoking about our relationships with the natural world.
The community food cupboard in this image may seem small, but for one person or family, it could make a huge difference in getting through the day as they wrestle with the food insecurity ramping up quickly in the U.S. An independent research group at the University of Chicago (NORC) conducted an analysis … Read more
There are all kinds of beliefs wrapped up in a decision to pursue a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. The attitudes vegetarians and vegans encounter from people around them can be complex. I grew up in an Army household and one of the benefits was we bought our groceries at a post commissary which, by law, … Read more
Reporter Alex Brown has written some interesting articles profiling the increase in urban wildlife in cities like Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Seattle. Initiatives in those cities to better coexist with urban wildlife are representative of what is going on across North America. As Brown states, “Most research on urban wildlife has taken place only … Read more
One of my favorite environmental activists is also one of my favorite philosophers: Joanna Macy is an ecophilosopher. She has written over a dozen books and travels extensively to share her thinking in workshops and lectures on topics that include ecological awareness, personal and social change, as well as spiritual issues. Macy calls the “empowerment … Read more
Do you have a passion for the environment, but work in a totally different field and wish you could somehow still contribute to better understanding of issues like climate change or protection of endangered species? Are you looking for interesting activities to do with your kids that might nourish potential lifelong interest in conservation? Do … Read more
Being forced to stay inside so much these days reminded me of a wonderful essay I read a few years ago by Jill Neimark about her journey back to life after being left incapacitated by a devastating environmental illness.1 How did she do it? She lived outdoors by camping in state forest in the Georgia … Read more
My friend kept trying different exercise programs, but nothing seemed to stick. Some soul searching reminded her that her happiest exercise days were 20 years before when she did extensive bicycle touring. Rather than thinking it would be impossible to regain the fitness that came with that pastime, she decided to immerse herself in bicycle … Read more
Stress. Anxiety. Even before coronavirus, stress was a prominent fixture in our society. A Gallup “World Emotions Report” was based on interviews in 2019 with over 150,000 adults in more than 140 countries to gain a snapshot of how people around the world assessed their positive and negative daily experiences.1 The report found stress levels … Read more
As all of us around the world hold our breath, hoping for a headline announcing a scientific breakthrough in the battle against the novel coronavirus, this seems like a good time to remember a footnote in polio vaccine research: Jonas Salk did not patent the vaccine. Edward R. Murrow, a noted 20th-century broadcast journalist, interviewed Dr. … Read more
Turning to nature in times of stress… Many of us seek out nature to reduce stress, whether it is returning to a favorite beach for a much deserved annual vacation or a simple daily walk in a park. Since most of us aren’t able to travel right now, I thought it was a good time … Read more