My Green New Deal, Part 4

Make it Personal

Having a moment in Delirium Cafe in Leesburg, VA

My Green 
New Deal is really
all about me. 

Aerial view, open air corridor at the Clipper Mill Apartments, Baltimore, MD.

Yes, I'm
inspired by the
boldness and creativity
of the original New Deal (My Green
New Deal, Part 1). Yes, I am ready to be accountable
and count my windows while also looking out for deceptions
(My Green New Deal, Part 2). Yes, I am here to say
"Yes" to this mess (My Green New Deal,
Part 3). But I am also ready
to bring it home and
make this global
issue mine.

Driving on the NJ Turnpike.

I've actually
been doing that for years,
measuring my family's impact, taking
lots of photographs and
examining my life
​closely.

Apple Pie, 2015 By ERSwett

Because I think
big and like to share, I created
Climate Action Playbooks
​(no longer in print),

Pages from Kitchen Conservation 2019, ERSwett

Pages from Energy at Home 2019, ERSwett

but really ​I'm
happiest when exploring
my world from behind the lens
of my camera...

Gorgeous Garbage, 1 2018 By ERSwett

...and getting
excited about things
like compost...

On The Road, 1 2019 By ERSwett

...and selfies
in the rear view
mirror while taking my
daughter to visit
colleges.

Elon University, 2019 Photo By ERSwett

It hit me,
somewhere between
our last campus tour and the
late night entrance into our garage,
that the future is not just about my children
building the skills they need. It's also
about me and my husband 
modeling those skills
right now.

Science Building, U. of Richmond, 2019 Photo by ERSwett

Step 1:
Self Care. I
can't help others if I
am exhausted. Step 2: Join
the group filled with people who
care about what I care
about and do what
I love to do.

On The Road, 2 2019 Photo by ERSwett

So I slept
well on Friday night
and asked some friends to join
me at an inspiring lecture
on Saturday...

Jim Antal speaking at the United Church of Strafford, March 2019 Photo by ERSwett

And created
portraits of some of 
the people there - - laughing,
hugging, and caring for one another.
​Amazing. Make it about me &
suddenly I'm out there
having  a ball and
finding joy.

It's Spring at the University of Richmond! Photo by ERSwett

Isn't it cool
that by being seemingly
self-centered, we are in fact being generous?
What do you need to do to make
​the climate crisis
personal?