I came into this course with a very self-centric point of view. I wanted to know what I could do in my life so that I would make a difference and do something good for the world. While my search stemmed from wanting to help others, along the way I somehow forgot about the fundamental interconnectedness of life. I shied away from depending on other people and I refused to ask for help when I was struggling. In the end, I put too much on myself to feasibly find a positive way to contribute. I felt incredibly lost.
Our exploration of human beingness in the Anthropocene reminded that I am not alone. It’s a simple idea, but it can be hard to grasp in an individualistic society like modern America.
Photo from: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/10/10/what-happens-when-we-look-at-the-world-objectively/.
In order to change our society and commit to lasting sustainable change, it has to be evident in our culture that on a basic level we are all connected. Placing trust and hope in others is integral to redefining our conceptualizations of how people should interact- which is the basis of our expectations for each other and the future. There’s no way to achieve a world where the vast majority of people act sustainably without first depending on each other locally in our efforts to generate positive awareness and change. One person doesn’t have the time in their life or the space in their head to find all the answers.
This realization was really eloquently expressed in our reading, Re-conceptualizing the Anthropocene: A call for collaboration, “The Anthropocene concept is not neutral about evidence of where the primary driver lies: the values, behaviors, and political economic structures that entangle people and societies operating within a world system” (Brondizio 2016). No matter what discipline I end up specializing in, I am part of a global society that is gaining consciousness and agency together.
My most powerful takeaway from this course is that it is a really good thing to ask for help and to be comfortable working with others. Working together is not only more natural, but it will also help me lead a healthier lifestyle, and bring a wealth of diverse viewpoints to issues that I may not fully understand, making them feel less immense. If we each face the Anthropocene alone, we will all be overwhelmed. Being human is being stronger together, and that is where we can find hope for the future.
Photo from: https://blog.edx.org/an-open-letter-learning-together.
References
Brondizio, E, O’Brien, K, Bai, X et al 2016, ‘Re-conceptualizing the Anthropocene: A call for collaboration’, Global Environmental Change, vol. 39, pp. 318-327.