Grieving the Good: Incrementally Disappeared
It was so much simpler when it was just me. The original me. I owned all the space and language that made up my identity. But now it feels like all the other interpretations of me — consumer, customer, voter, member — are crowding into my personal space. Someone...
I live on the West Coast and write about the environment, climate, and water. In my professional writing life, I focus on stories and science about people doing good, cherishing our planet, thinking big picture, challenging assumptions.
Most of my stories have been about restoring the landscapes and waterways we’ve trampled under our human footprint, so others — the birds, the bees, the truffala trees, salmon — can live alongside us without dying at our hands.
I’ve also been a magazine editor, co-authored a book and been published in newspapers and other magazines.
This Thoughts space is for rambling…
Today, I’m older, wiser and more worried than ever about our carelessness in caring for our nest. You don’t shit where you live. It’s time to rethink how we talk about this. If we allow ourselves to believe “that’ll never happen” it never will.
I’m also really worried about women. We’ve come so far to be pushed back so hard. We can’t let that stand.
In solidarity with others grieving the good…
Ariel Rubissow Okamoto
