Remembering what it is we're fighting for

One big impact of the climate crisis is that I no longer take the beauty and abundance of the natural world for granted.

I mentioned last week that I recently left the social enterprise I set up in 2010.

I’m taking a bit of time to work out what to do next. And getting outdoors as much as I can. For walks, for finally getting on top of things in the garden after all these years.

I went out into the garden early yesterday morning, before it got too hot, and I spotted this.

I can’t quite believe how beautiful that poppy is.

And if you look to the right on the photo, you can see I’m not the only one who’s been drawn in by its beauty.

I went back out again at 6pm, and it was gone.

What a privilege to have witnessed its moment in the sun.

Tapping into what inspires you

I can get pretty disconsolate when I think about the climate crisis.

I’m very conscious that one reason I’m not jumping right into the next thing job-wise is that I’m not totally sure where to focus my energies.

It can all feel a bit overwhelming.

And that’s not easy to deal with. But I think it’s a natural response to the enormity of the challenge we face.

Deep down, I do think we still have time. I have to believe we still have time.

And I know that one of the things that gives me hope, gives me energy to keep fighting, is the beauty of the natural world.

A world that is under threat like never before.

And we all happen to be alive right at the time when we’ve got a chance to sort things out.

That’s quite something to get your head around. Which is why I think it’s so important to remind yourself - and to share stories with others - about what you’re fighting for.

Me, I’m inspired every day by the natural world. Yesterday it’s poppies in my garden, this evening it might be something I see on the race I’m running in the beautiful countryside around Otley.

And in the meantime, the poppies keep coming. There’s loads of them. I didn’t plant them - presumably some birds did - and I have no idea what’s coming next.

But this morning’s one is pretty good too.