Make Every Day an Earth Day
April 22, 2022 at 9:15 AM
The past two years have been rough. But as we emerge from our collective cocoon of the pandemic, we are greeted by a planet that is full of wonders, resilient and alive with hope.
Across the globe, people are increasingly heeding the call of climate action, from scientists designing clean energy systems to students holding rallies to individuals making greener lifestyle choices. There is much work yet to do, even as we face seemingly impossible odds. It will take all of us to save the planet.
We at the Office for Sustainability are proud to be supporting the incredible staff, students and faculty at the University who are committing to be part of the climate solution. We wanted to take this opportunity to share our reflections on what Earth Day means to us.
(We want to hear from you, too! Please share what Earth Day means to you on our social media pages: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.)
I love Earth Day because so many people at all stages of life and with all sorts of different interests collaborate and engage in activities and events that celebrate this amazing planet and all the the incredible, interconnected living beings on it.
There are so many reasons I enjoy Earth Day, but mostly because it’s a holiday to celebrate everything we do!
Earth Day is a day of rebirth, renewal, and light. It inspires me to do things that sustain the world, but also myself, so I can continue moving forward and do the work that will help make a better future.
Very grateful for this place we ALL call home…it provides everything we need for shelter, clothing, food, and water.
Earth Day is a celebratory holiday. It’s a day to enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to live on this one-of-a-kind blue space marble – and remember why it’s so important to treat our collective home with care.
For me, Earth Day is all about cultivating hope so it’s perfect that it coincides with Spring when we’re seeing so much growth and rebirth around us. Hope and gratitude for the world around us are the best fuel for climate action!
Earth Day, to me, is a day that reminds us to be good stewards of our environment by doing our part to help protect the world that we live in for ourselves and those that follow us.
Earth Day has always been a reminder for me to set my personal sustainable goal for the year. This year, I set a target to buy or use as little plastic product as possible. I really believe that every small eco-friendly decision we make can accumulate and make a significant difference for generations to come!
Earth Day is a moment to celebrate how fortunate we are to live on this beautiful planet. Shenandoah, in our own back yard? Wow. I take time to assess what I can do so future generations can also enjoy these wondrous wild spaces, while leaving plenty of habitat for our neighbor species.
Earth Day is a perfect opportunity to stop and look around you to appreciate how lucky we are to call this planet home and how much it provides for us, for what we need to live and its beauty. I am grateful that I have a job that allows me to help drive sustainability in our own community every day, and help people do the same.
Earth Day is my annual reminder that I have the coolest job ever. But seriously, I get to work alongside some of the most innovative students, staff, faculty and community members who share a united vision of appreciating our planet. Majorly cool!
While the challenges of climate change and pollution are vast, I am encouraged by all of the companies, governments and nonprofits taking action, using their distinct leverage points and capabilities toward environmental and human progress. Earth Day is a great time to remember what we have accomplished and why we do it.
Every Earth Day I’m struck with a wave of optimism. So many people want to do all they can for the planet, and so many people have found ways to make it FUN! There’s a lot of work left to do, but celebrating our wins and Earth’s beauty help it all feel manageable.
