EARTH DAY PERFORMATIVE ACTIVISM// Expectations VS. Reality

Leah Williams is wearing an white shirt and olive green khaki jacket. She is a White woman and had wavy brown hair. She is sitting cross-legged and drinking from a stainless-steel reusable travel mug by Yeti. She is in British Columbia in front of t…

About a month ago, when I knew Earth Day was coming I was super pumped. But the closer it got I started to feel mild dread. The approaching Earth Day was starting to symbolize this massive failure, because I had not written a single word in a month and the project I was hoping to announce was not ready. Earth Day was creeping closer and not a sharable word had been written.

Earth Day started to feel like one of those holidays that have a lot of expectations built in through commodification, like Valentine’s Day or Christmas- where how well you perform on that one day ends up representing an entire years’ worth of love. Where more equals better, and what happens externally is tied to your self worth. Where your ethicalness, measured in Earth Day activities translates into your value as a person.

Beginning Zero Waste living (or the start of following a calling) can feel like this. Since it’s been so built up in your head, the pressure to have it go a certain way ends up being so great that fear of failure prevents you from even starting.

If the expectations you have for yourself are based on a superficial performance because you feel obligated, you set yourself up to fall short. Any action will feel inadequate if you’re looking for a feeling, like connection, love or enoughness, through conditional things outside of yourself.

While it’s been marked as a special day, ideally we act and behave with love and appreciation for our Earth every day, not just once a year. Today brings attention to our relationship with the Earth and it’s an opportunity to cultivate connection and grounding in whatever way that is for you or your community. Connection to our Earth is not measured in online presence, quantity, or an activity done out of obligation without feeling. You don’t need anything special to participate in Earth Day or to have a connected moment with our Earth, just like you don’t need special products to make less waste. It can be as simple as a meditative walk, saying no to a disposable product or just getting outside and practicing gratitude.

How are you connecting on Earth Day?

Photography by Clary Chambers circa. 2018, in Vancouver British Columbia.

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