Come as you are: we all bring something to the environmental movement
The environmental movement can seem overwhelming, and you might feel as though you have to be a “perfect” environmentalist to contribute to the movement. That is a lie. We all bring something different, uniqueand impactful to the environmental movement, as the people we are today. You and I may speak different languages, come from different countries, be of different races or have different political views, but no matter what, we all deserve to live in a world where we see ourselves represented in the environmental movement.
We can all commit and contribute to being more environmentally friendly. We must strive for progress in the environmental movement, not perfection. Understand that it’s okay to mess up, or be an imperfect environmentalist.
You can get involved in the environmental movement as the human being you are at this exact moment. Start by looking at your life and the changes you can make;don’t feel pressure to replicate what others within the movement are doing. Don’t shy away from making mistakes as you maneuver the movement. These mistakes are educational opportunities that allow you to become a better environmentalist. Sharing our imperfect moments within the movement makes the movement a more welcoming space; it breaks down the barrier that many believe prevents them from getting involved.
You don’t have to radically change your everyday life. Maybe you actively try to walk or take public transportation to school or work, or you participate inor follow a few different environmentalists on, or you grow your own herbs or tomatoes at home. All of these small steps matter.
Well-known zero-waste chefAnne Marie Bonneau framed the environmental movement perfectly by saying, “we don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”
So cut yourself some slack, and remember that you don’t have to be perfect to be an environmentalist.