What Can One Person Do? World population is pushing 8 billion. Of all those people, about 5 million have died from COVID, which is less than one in a thousand.
About twice as many have died of starvation and fossil fuel emissions. Now, we individuals don't have to choose which disaster we will work on. We can do more than one. We got vaccinated and we wear masks when needed, and next month Jill and I will drive to Texas in our electric car to minimize our carbon emissions. Are our small efforts going to make a difference? Well, not much, we being just two out of 8 billion. What else can we do, though? Get depressed? Lotta reasons for that, but would it do any good? I am pro-active about climate change. In my view, our fears about nuclear power are exaggerated and harmful-so I wrote some newsletters https://www.rienstraclinic.com/news/190/60/August-2016 . And at least one of you have heard me say "Do you mind turning off your engine?" as you sat in your idling car on Water Street. You replied, "Doctor Rienstra! Remember me? Sure, I'll turn it off, thanks for reminding me. I wasn't thinking." I am a believer in small efforts, over and over. Little Things Many of the people we see in the media-entertainers, politicians, authors-have done big things. We are no less important, that we've done little things: raise a family, go to work every day, take care of our parents. We all count; the entertainers and politicians need us as much as we need them. This Thanksgiving season, most of us gave thanks for what has brought us joy. For our parents, spouses and children. For our jobs. For our health. For our homes. The world is made up of little things. Eight billion little people. A great natural world of raindrops, small farms, birds and bees. The biggest little things are the kindnesses. The ICU workers caring for people who perhaps could have avoided COVID. The folks doing the invisible jobs at Walmart or the nursing home. The Republicans who helped our Democratic president bring relief to our people and money for our roads and bridges. Our local government officials who work hard to keep our community together. The patience all of us share with those who disagree with us about the many critical community issues of our time. Our country has a great beating heart made of many little hearts. Each heart is just as important as another and they are all just the right size. Let's join in.
November
Note: This information was current when written. Please
check with your own healthcare provider before taking action.