Hippie Sh**
If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere - Vincent Van Gogh
I was on a date with this guy and I was talking to him about how one of my goals is to create more community gardens in urban spaces and encourage sustainability.
The next thing out of his mouth was ‘Oh Hippie Sh** !’
Excuse me…
I felt a variety of emotions after he spoke. I was so taken back by his comment. I brushed it off at the moment but in reality, it changed my whole vibe. Even after the date was over and we went our separate ways, that comment stuck with me. But why?
I had to unpack what it meant and why I felt offended.
Let the over analyzing begin!
I went down the rabbit hole of questions like… What did he mean by this statement? Why did he say it like that? Did he misinterpret my vision? Why would that constitute me as a hippie?
Whatever the case may have been I took it personally and I know that goes against one of Don Miguel Ruiz’s four agreements but it was my truth. It may be tied to the fact that I do consider myself an aspiring free spirit and self-proclaimed flower-child due to my craft in floral design but it's more than the image and stereotypes that are one google search away. It's not enough for me to attach myself to a label from a one-sided viewpoint.
The roots go deeper than that. I want to shine light on a different perspective and change the narrative of what it means to be connected to nature and the environment as a whole.
If ‘I’m Outside’ was a person it would be me. I can spend hours outdoors, exploring, hiking or just being. Even when I go out to eat at a restaurant I tend to sit outside on the patio or try to snag a window seat.
I feel inspired and my most authentic self when I'm in nature. It’s a place where I block out everything that’s going on in the world and I feel the most present. There's an awareness and peace in nature that's hard to obtain in the everyday busyness of our lives. The complicated things about life seem so simple in nature. It has benefits that heal therapeutically but also physically through the natural resources it provides.
It feels sacred, a gift if you will, with everything we need to sustain in life.
It’s not until you actually spend time in natural spaces that you will understand how everything is interconnected.
With better understanding comes better appreciation which can lead to better stewardship.
Not only in nature but with humanity as well.
I’ve been privileged. Not everyone has access to the benefits of such natural spaces in their environment. Some communities that reside in the concrete jungles don't have access to many green spaces and the areas they do have are usually in close proximity to busy streets and have high pollution, a place where disease and food deserts are part of the culture.
There's a Nature Gap.
According to The Nature Gap report from the Center for American Progress (2020), People of color, families with children, and low-income communities are most likely to be deprived of the benefits that nature provides.
Not only are these communities unable to truly reap the therapeutic benefits but even as simple as clean water and clean air.
My viewpoint on bridging that gap can work in two ways, by raising awareness about environmental justice and advancing diversity in outdoor spaces.
Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Here’s what you need to know about Environmental Justice (EJ) :
Environmental justice is a movement.Environmental justice is social justice.
The Environmental Justice Movement has broadened the perspective of environment beyond the scope of conservation and preservation of natural resources and has defined the environment as “Where we live, work, play, learn and pray.” - Greenaction
Relationship with environmental justice and climate change: Climate change is an Environmental Justice issue because certain groups of people in the United States are disproportionately affected by climate change impacts. These groups include people of color, low-income communities, immigrants, and indigenous communities.
Examples of EJ include: inadequate access to healthy food, inadequate transportation, toxic air and water pollution and unsafe homes. Such as Cancer Alley and Flint
Environmental Justice is a basic human right.
Ways to support environment justice:
“Decades of research show that Black and brown communities are on the front lines of environmental harms.”--Alejandra Borunda
Facts about Inclusion the Outdoors:
Diversifying the outdoors covers conservation and recreation. Conservation is the careful preservation and protection of something.
Inclusive representation of the outdoors in the media. There is under representation in the outdoors and a lack of representation in economic development and conservation jobs.
Youth in underprivileged low-income communities have higher barriers to overcome to enjoying the outdoors like transportation or unsafe parks.
Decolonizing conservation and educating others about stolen land of indigenous communities will contribute to better stewardship and appreciation for the land we share.
Early exposure to the outdoors will increase the likelihood of nature-based recreation.
Spotlighting and healing the fears of BIPOC communities feeling unsafe in the outdoors due to history will contribute to an increase in diversity and inclusion.
Change the narrative by dispelling the stereotypes of BIPOC communities in the outdoors {“Black people don’t ski’ ‘Black and brown people don’t climb mountains or hike’ 'That's white people stuff”} is another way of to enhance inclusion.
“The outdoors should be a place of healing and enjoyment for all”. - ECOR
Organizations that are changing the narrative and bridging the gap in green spaces:
Being an ally in the outdoors:
If 2020 has taught us nothing it's taught us that we live in a broken system, there is a serious crack in in the foundation. In order to truly move forward there is a lot of unlearning and learning that needs to take place. In addition to, intentional awareness of our actions and how it affects others. Nature teaches us that we are all connected and what affects one of us affects all of us. We all have a part to play.
I’ve made it my mission to use my creative expression and the beauty of my experiences, to cultivate healthy, sustainable and equitable communities; While raising awareness for environmental justice and stewardship.
If that’s what you call hippie sh** … so be it!
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