Wanting a better environment in the age of “Burn out”

[trymahjong]

From CEC newsletter

 

Coping with Burnout by Susie Hairston   You talked, we listened! Among many other things that the charrette groups at the recent Greater Houston Environmental Summit identified as challenges for Houston’s environmental community in the coming year was the need to address burnout in the environmental space.   Issues like climate change and plastic pollution are so large and so hard to impact in any but tiny steps, that they can leave individuals fighting to mitigate them feeling hopeless. Wins can be few, far between, and discouragingly small. That’s why it’s important to share stories of victories.   Finding and Sharing Good News: We need to share good news with each other like Environment Texas’s big win working with legislators, citizens and other environmental organizations to successfully get the Texas Legislature to invest $1 billion in state parks; like Air Alliance Houston being recognized at Powerhouse Texas’s 2024 Power Player Awards as an Outstanding Advocacy Organization for their work in Houston, advocating for and empowering frontline communities.    Share your good news stories with CEC, and we will publish them in our newsletter and/or on social media to inspire and uplift others in the environmental community. info@cechouston.org   Seek out sources that regularly share good news such as  https://www.dailyclimate.org/Good-News/ and climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe’s electronic newsletter (sign up here: https://katharinehayhoe.com?)   Achieving small, tangible wins: Sometimes, when we are working on long-term big fights, it’s good to do something small and tangible to affirm ourselves along the way — a small win can give us the strength to keep fighting on the bigger longer-term projects.   Many of our member organizations have small projects they need help with that can give volunteers a sense of immediate accomplishment such as tree and natives/wildflower planting and bird counting. Check our calendar to find events where you can make an immediate difference and boost your spirits. https://cechouston.org/cec-calendar/    Lots of planting and ecosystem restoration events are coming up this week. Here are a few you might want to participate in:    Plant native wildflowers and grasses and eradicate invasive species from Indiangrass Preserve in Waller with Coastal Prairie Conservancy Volunteer Stewards Friday, November 15th from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. This opportunity is available weekly.  https://www.coastalprairieconservancy.org/cpc-events/l6rpm2crbakgrtz-w8w4m-sspha-fwgrp-7flcw-mkdmh-ny78b-hk2t7-7yz78-wg7sz-py5zy-a8jxb-aw6h6   Pick-up trash, remove weeds, and spread mulch at Buffalo Bayou Park with Buffalo Bayou Partnership Saturday November 16th from 8:30 - 11:30. This opportunity recurs the third Saturday of every month. https://buffalobayou.org/event/monthly-volunteer-workday-20/   Join a Deer Park Prairie Work Day on Saturday November 16th from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. A wonderful combination of community building, ecological restoration work, and enjoying nature where volunteers start the day breakfasting together, spend the day clearing woody debris, and end the day in a restful prairie walk.  https://texasprairie.org/event/deer-park-prairie-workday-3/   Many of these tangible projects also help us get back in touch with the rest of the natural world as we work within an ecosystem, and this alsovis incredibly helpful in battling stress and burnout, reminding us of the love for our world that got us involved in this work to begin with.   Reconnecting with nature and reminding ourselves why we do this work: Go on a Buffalo Bayou Park Wellness Walk with Laura Conely of Urban Paths on Wednesday, November 13th 6:30 – 8:00pm https://buffalobayou.org/calendar/?view-type=calendar&date=2024-11-01   Go on a guided walk, exploring the birds of John Paul Landing Park in Cypress Thursday, November 14th 8:30 a.m - 11:30 a.m. https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/hcprecinct4/activity/search/detail/8799?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true   Commune with your favorite wild animals at the Houston Zoo  https://www.houstonzoo.org/   Get to know the rabbits, hedgehogs, turtles, snakes, tarantulas, and more at the Nature Discovery Center https://naturediscoverycenter.org/our-animals/   Connect with community: Many of our member organizations have events  that connect community — happy hours, meet and greets, annual meetings, and more. Check-out these upcoming ones: Central City Co-op’s free Friendsgiving potluck. Bring a dish and join in a night of food, fun, and games. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-friendsgiving-tickets-1043304119707?aff=ebdssbdestsearch   CEC’s environmental bookclub: first meeting Tuesday, December 3rd at 7 p.m. at Blackhole Coffee House where we will discuss Eve Schaub’s Year of No Garbage. https://cechouston.org/environmental-book-club/   Houston Climate Movement Quarterly Climate and Environment Film Series, Tuesday, November 26th 6:30 -8 p.m. at the Coronation Theater.   Houston Arboretum’s Connecting Communities event that celebrates diversity in our ecosystems and our communities. Saturday, November 16th 10:00am – 2:00pm https://houstonarboretum.org/event/connecting-communities/   For more events that put you in touch with nature, community, and hope: https://cechouston.org/cec-calendar/