A chance to change

I have been reading about the climate change almost every day during the last few years. You can't avoid seeing the titles in the news papers, in the internet, on Tv or hearing people of all ages talking about it. One thing bothers me in some of these discussions and reactions. It feels like there are very opposite sides on this case: some people are refusing to believe there is a climate change going on and the other side is painting big devils on the walls, saying there is no hope in the situation we live in. Many people are thinking that this process is something that always happened on our planet, there always was a change of climate and people have very little input to this change. It sometimes sounds like a big fight: who is right and who is wrong! 

I guess there is not such a very simple one truth. But there is an unhealthy process going on around us and it will affect on our lives in very basic levels. The food production will be challenged, more and more people may loose their homes in extreme weather conditions and there will be increased pressure to move to the areas with more stability. 

Our life conditions have developed better in many ways during the History and we live much longer these days than the generations before us...but the Nature is slowly collapsing around us. 

Maybe it would be more effective just to talk about the health influences of our actions. The healthy environment is good for everybody: for people, for the animals, for plants, waters and forests. A healthy environment is based on clean air, clean water, clean earth, clean food. I would like to see people and different countries making good choices to limit the unhealthy habits and circles of production and consuming. The industry and the leaders have to make better rules and commit to this healthy planet project. The scientist are following up the changes, measuring the facts and making prognoses how bad or good our situation can develop. No one can claim that the environmental changes and extreme conditions, like forest fires, are not affecting  to the physical and mental health of the people living in those areas. 

If one doesn't want to speak about the climate change, would it be more easy to talk about the health problems of our ecological system and it's impact to our life. Who doesn't want to have good air to breathe, clean water to drink and enough good quality food to eat. I often think of my children when I study the latest news about our planet. Parenting is a long term mentorship in so many ways and I have learned to be more attentive to many important things since having my own kids.

We had a Winter holiday last week in the northern part of the Netherlands. It is very popular that the dutch people go for skiing holidays during that time. I can understand that. Dutch winter is far away from the concept of "real winter". It is constantly raining this week.

We have been taking some healthy steps towards a better balance as a family. The holiday seasons are dedicated for being together. My husband  planned all the holidays in advance and he is totally present when the kids are having their school off. Last week we took the train for a few days trip to Berlin. Traveling by train instead of driving a car was a stress free journey, it took about six hours from Amsterdam. I enjoyed watching the landscapes, seeing the stations and even hearing the sounds of a moving train.

A nice family room in Lulu Guldsmeden hotel

The absolute "Hit", thinking of the kids, was driving the long streets of Berlin with an electric kick scooter. We noticed during our stay that one museum visit per day is the maximum for our teenagers. They need some fresh air and action. I was surprised how fun and effective way of transportation this kick scooter was in a large scale city like Berlin. You just download on app to your telephone, inlog and pick the scooters from a street. You can find them from everywhere. It is quite expensive, so we just used them a couple of times for moving longer distances.

We visited two museums this time: the DDR-museum and the Jewish Museum. These places were interesting enough to all of us. I really liked the Jewish museum in many ways. The architecture of the modern part of it is just amazing. The contrast of the spiky, geometrical forms of the building and the individual stories from the second world war with personal belongings was touching. Big open spaces made you feel small and the light coming from the top was giving some hope.

The Holocaust Tower (Jewish museum)

Great photography from Israel by Martin Collar (Jewish museum)

One week after the holiday we got some sad news. It just reminded how precious the time with your loved ones is. 

We always have a chance or many chances to change, but it can be very difficult.

First of all we have to be motivated and feel it's worth it and stop being too hard on ourselves. 

Caring about yourself can be harder than anything else. 

We just lost one charismatic and friendly person one week ago. Someone who was struggling with himself. 

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