Change and Opportunity 

In the great book, I Ching, the Chinese philosophers coded many different types of changes in hexagrams (an image with 6 lines). This is the book of many kinds of change. One of the hexagrams speaks to Change and Opportunity being bound together. When we look back in our ancient or recent history we can see that change, while being uncomfortable, inconvenient or detrimental, also brings opportunity for growth, scientific discoveries, new jobs, new inventions, and other things yet unknown.

In the beginning spending all this time at home made me feel inconvenienced, irritable and anxious. Anybody else gain a few pounds? I am now looking for the opportunities that I can choose moving forward. I am delighted to learn that the reduced impact of transportation and factories on the environment is allowing for a startlingly quick shift in the quality of the air and water. 

NASA’s air quality research satellite data shows a 30 percent drop in air pollution over the Northeast United States during this CoVid 19 time period. This is the lowest level of nitrogen dioxide recorded in 15 years when this project began! There is also a beneficial effect for the huge ozone hole over the Antarctic. It is showing signs of improvement. Ozone blocks radiation from the sun which protects our plant crops and helps protect us from skin cancer. Without ozone protection we would all starve. 

People have seen dolphins swimming in waters they had previously avoided. And the skies have turned blue in areas that once were full of smog. Distant mountains are visible again in India. Wildlife are evident in the parks again in Europe and America. Endangered turtles are showing up in droves at their nesting beaches. More people are gardening, talking to strangers and helping each other.

If my pattern change of only running errands once a week can benefit our air and water quality, then I am all in! This is something I can easily do. And it would save my time too. A double win! I am already recycling, reusing, repurposing and reducing my trash. What other things can I change or do to help? I’m looking for them!

What small changes can you make in your lifestyle and habits that would, collectively, have a beneficial effect on our planetary air and water quality? Discuss this with your family and loved ones. You might come up with some great ideas or a new invention!