Have you ever felt like, before trying to make a difference in this world, you have to have it all figured out? There's a lot of responsibility in feeling like you've got to know all the answers when maybe the answer is found in embracing the fact that we really don't have it all figured out.
As a global community, we have more opportunity than ever to learn from one another, to connect, and to care. What if, together, we could begin to recognize the interconnectedness of caring for both people and the planet? Choosing just one feels so limiting when the beauty lies in exploring how deeply connected it all is. One of the questions I am being asked often right now is why we are beginning to do a monthly beach cleanup, and I wanted to take the time to share some perspective in hopes to answer that question.
The vision for community cleanups have really come from a place of asking questions and learning to listen. It is pretty clear that people all over this world are navigating diverse traumas, and at the same time, our planet has also been exposed and impacted by immense trauma. As I learn more, the themes between people and the planet seem to have a lot of overlap.
CREATING COMMON GROUND:
The community cleanups are not just about picking up trash; they are a response to the overlapping themes of resilience, care, learning, and gathering. The vision for the cleanups is to create a common ground for people to come together. Beyond the visible impact on the immediate surroundings, the vision for these cleanups is to carve out a common ground, a space where individuals from diverse backgrounds can come together, connect, and find community in shared experiences. The essence of creating common ground lies in acknowledging that we're not alone in this world. It's an invitation to individuals to recognize that the highs, lows, and in-betweens of our lives are all part of our story and our individual story is part of a story much greater than just our own.
SHIFT FROM SHAME TO POSSIBILITY:
Traditional perspectives often shows cleaning up as a chore or punishment that comes with a sense of shame for the presence of trash in our surroundings. However we are curious on how we can approach this differently. What if we could begin to see the trash not as symbols of neglect but as opportunities to restore and uplift. As we collectively embrace the shift from shame to possibility in our approach to cleaning up, the impact has potential to reverberate far beyond just that one day. This change in mindset holds the potential to create a ripple effect that can extend into many aspects of our lives. When we see trash not as neglect but as opportunities for restoration it opens up the consideration to reconsider how we view the thing the may feel yucky or not needed in our own life.
CARE AS A COMMON LANGUAGE:
Care becomes the universal language spoken during community cleanups. As hands work together to restore the environment, a silent conversation unfolds. This shared care goes beyond what we are doing and actually extends to the well-being of each person present. Have you ever bonded with a group of people while participating in an act of service? There really is something so special that happens in those moments, our vision for the cleanups is to be a safe space for anyone to come and care and be cared for. The simple act of picking up trash becomes a profound gesture of caring. We are going to be utilizing the use of trauma informed care tools to really support this space and as a lens to care, I’ll share a lot more on that as we go.
CONSISTENCY:
Learning takes time, shifting takes trust, cultivating community doesn’t happen overnight which is why consistency is going to be so important when it comes to our monthly cleanups. The hope in consistent monthly cleanups is to provide a structured space for individuals to come together, reinforcing the sense of community and shared purpose. Over time, I believe these regular gatherings will become more than just cleanup events; they become a symbol of collective growth, solidarity, and a shared vision for caring for oneself, for one another, and for our world.
Look, I want to be so honest; I don’t have all of the answers on how to make this world a kinder, inclusive, more connected place. What I do have is hope that when we come together, and learn together, and shift together, prioritizing both the planet and people something really beautiful is going to happen. When we create spaces in this world to be reminded that you are not alone, when there are consistent reminders that you are truly needed and valued, when you realize your story is a gift that the world needs, well, I think that’s worth exploring, and that is why we are doing a monthly beach cleanup.
Our very first clean up is happening in our Ensenada Hub on Saturday March 2nd! The support from the Ensenada Representatives, local businesses, and just the community here has been tremendous, I truly couldn’t be more stoked. A lot of you have asked if there is anything needed right now and I think the biggest need at the moment is just for the lose ends to come together with supplies. I will be doing a little trip to CA this weekend to gather the final pieces. If you’d like to help shoot me a response and just say “I WANT TO HELP” and we will see what we can come up with.
