“Without inner change there can be no outer change. Without collective change, no change matters.” – Rev. angel Kyodo williams
Greenpeace staff are some of the most dedicated, passionate, principled and tireless people you’ll ever meet. They work long, fast-paced days, months, and years on end – and sometimes it leads to burnout, which is disheartening for the activist, expensive to the organization, and a loss to the movement. It’s depressing to think of what we’re up against. What if, instead of focusing on what we’re up against, we focused on our vision for a green and peaceful future?
What if we create a movement filled with people enjoying the work, taking care of themselves, and generally having fun while saving the planet?
I believe a joyous and sustainable environmental movement is not only possible but necessary.
To help create that, San Francisco Greenpeacers headed out for the first ever “Big Fun Camping Trip” at Mt. Diablo State Park.
We reconnected with each other and our work, and it was a blast. We went on nature hikes where we and identified tree species and animal footprints. We talked about what inspires us and how we can cultivate that in our day-to-day work. We listened to the coyotes howl, walked in the moonlight, ate s’mores, and sang in rounds. In the morning before we went our separate ways, we ate pancakes under the oak canopy, and started planning the next big fun adventure.
No matter what you do for your job, it’s important to step back and reconnect with your purpose – and remember to have fun along the way.