Noise Pollution and Grounded Optimism
How to stay sane in a chaotic world
Before we dive in…
Can I ask for your vote?
Establishing Sustainable Climate Culture within Your Company
Dear friends and optimist seekers, I would love it so much if you wanted to give my panel proposal for SXSW 2024 your vote! Panels for next year’s SXSW conference will be picked via votes like yours so it would mean the world to me if you voted!
(You have to create an account and then just click “vote”, it’s done within a minute!) THANK YOU
Grounded Optimism
When I recently lectured at Harvard for their summer youth summit, we talked about what grounded optimism is and how to achieve it.
To me, climate optimism and grounded optimism are technically the same thing. In other words, I don’t think you can be a climate optimist without also having at least one sturdy foot in the land of the living. Translating to — we must stay aware of the realities of our climate crisis to even begin to find the optimism we need to make a difference.
Because if you don’t know what’s going on, how will you ignite the desire to act?
» Grounded Awareness + Empowered Action = Climate Optimism «
That is why I love stumbling across articles like this recent one in Forbes on Sobering Reality & Heartening Optimism. It starts with listing some of the scary fiction-like realities of our current climate, like the fact that temperatures of 128 degrees Fahrenheit (53.3 degrees Celsius) were reported in Death Valley last month and that ocean temperatures off Florida reached hot tub levels. But then it delves into climate optimism and shares all the technological tipping points we’re actually heading for. Which, by the way, are quite many!
It’s worth a read so if you’re looking for a big dose of (grounded) optimism, click here.
What is Noise Pollution?
I had just stepped into the park across the street from our apartment in an attempt to catch my breath. Our home is a world of constant chaos these days and however magical this baby land is, I do long for those brief moments just to myself.
However, the moment of serenity didn’t quite deliver as I had hoped. Not because the park was bustling on a Saturday afternoon (I’m all for people enjoying the outdoors) but because there was a PARTY BOAT on the Hudson River.
With very loud music. Echoing its way all across the upper part of Manhattan.
Ugh.
Hand on my heart, I’m extremely sensitive to noise. I’ve spent nights unable to settle because there was an electricity pole on the street outside that kept emitting a low buzzing sound.
Some people might find me annoyingly sensitive (read my husband) but I have my reasons. In fact, noise pollution is proven to have direct negative impacts on our health.
Problems related to noise include:
Stress-related illnesses
High blood pressure
Speech interference
Hearing loss
Sleep disruption and lost productivity
Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency
Why does NOISE create stress-related illnesses?
As humans, we are developed to respond to noise (especially loud, buzzing ones) as a potential danger. Our bodies will release adrenaline and make sure we’re active and focused on whatever might be “lurking in those bushes.” Now take a moment and reflect on our modern world with the endless supply of highly disruptive noises (including cellphone pings and other notifications) and you’ll soon see just how plausible it is for all this noise to lead to a great deal of stress.
Not only is it bad because stress is awful to live with, but it also doesn’t help us in our work to co-create a better and more sustainable world. For that we need space to think, inspiration to be creative, and enough stillness in our lives to let those thoughts of wonder come to us.
A moment to sit on a park bench and let our minds wander. What if…?
Your environment matters
I don’t have the answer to this problem but I’m pointing to the fact that noise is NOT harmless! So maybe take inventory of your current surroundings, both at work and at home, to see how much noise is currently infiltrating your life.
Is there a constant pinging of cell phones from different family members? If so, can those phones be put on silent for the hours that are not “important?”
Is there always a TV on in the background and if so, could you maybe create windows of time when the TV is not allowed to be on?
What’s your office environment like and how noisy is your commute to work? Can you escape some of those noises with noise-canceling headphones? Could you propose a quiter environment at work?
Recognize that noise matters and do yourself - and the world - a favor by making a bit more quiet in your every day. In a sound-abundant world, we sure could use some more silence!
Climate Optimism
As always, here are some good news recently to fuel your optimism:
Canada is leading the way by ending fossil fuels subsidies — no more giving money to industries that should be on the outs! (As read in Katharine Hayhoe’s Newsletter)
For the first time ever, a group of youth (age 5 - 22) has won a court chase on climate change. This win guarantees a “fundamental constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment, which includes climate.”
The Clean Energy Future Is Arriving Faster Than You Think! The United States is pivoting away from fossil fuels and toward wind, solar and other renewable energy, even in areas dominated by the oil and gas industries.
This company is sinking wood into the ocean to battle climate change!
In Other Climate News:
An article in NY Times on how climate change has become a climate war issue. And I’m afraid I agree!! This is why it’s ever more important that we learn how to talk about climate change in a way that invites everyone on board the boat to a better and more sustainable future.
Noteworthy:
So excited to share that Newsweek is launching a new hub completely dedicated to climate optimism! I’m currently obsessing over this article: What’s The Best Weapon Against Climate Change? Hope!
Spoiler alert — I also look forward to being more involved with this hub coming up! 🙃
Palms 47 , God owns Earthly climate system as he sees fit he will adjust to compensate.