Luck

noun

Success of failure apparently brought on by chance rather than one’s own actions

We are lucky, lucky people, you and I.  

We are living in a very, very, special time.  People a couple generations behind us and a couple generations ahead of us did not and will not share in our luck.

We have access to copious amounts of cheap energy.  With this energy we can enjoy large homes and vehicles, apples and tomatoes all year round.  We can take a plane or a car anywhere in the world. We can enjoy the resources of the Earth, but also its biodiversity.  

We can live now without not addressing any of the consequences of our lifestyle.  We don’t have to deal with cities underwater, natural disasters, and widespread disease.  We are not forced to curb our habits, to conserve or correct.

Our descendants will be unlucky  They will be burdened, though not because of any actions of their own.

We are a species that relies on the natural world for our progress.  Our generation sits at the pinnacle of human advancement and an intact planet.  We sit on the best of two worlds: the human world, and Earth.   For this, we are lucky.  

Sometimes, I don’t think we are grateful enough. Grateful enough to do what each of us can to conserve and correct.  Thankful enough to sacrifice a little more of our time, energy, or comfort.  I know I can do more. The spark for me has been wrapping my mind around how lucky I really am.  Maybe this will work for others as well.