It was a family gathering which just does not happen often enough, due to us being spread so broadly across the country. It is so strange to see how younger cousins have grown almost as tall as you are, even though it has been two years since you last saw them, it still feels like just yesterday that they were much younger.

It was at this family gathering that my uncle said something to us young adults that really moved and shook me inside. It was something that took us all by surprise and yet it felt like it was so needed. He called us all together, my cousins being in their late teens and myself in my early twenties, and said he wanted to talk to us.

We jokingly gathered around expecting to be told a great tale that would leave us in tears of laughter, but instead it left us in silence and deep thought. My uncle said to us "You all know what a state our planet is in, and we, the older generation are to blame. We have pushed the planet to the limit through our inconsiderate drive towards a superior life style. We have fuelled industries that cause so much harm, without even thinking of the repercussions, we have lived our lives as luxuriously as we could afford never stopping to think of what damage we might be causing. And worst of all we have instilled in our children the same harmful habits without thinking of the consequences." He continued "I am ashamed to admit these things, but at least have the courage to ask for your help. You are the generation who will have to correct our wrong doings, you are the generation that will have to try by all means to heal the wounds we have left on the earth.The only way to do that is to be aware of what consequences your everyday actions have on the planet and to strive to live in a way that will have the least impact on the environment."

His words took us all by surprise and we all understood the seriousness of what he was saying, these deep and meaningful word coming from an ordinary man. But this was a man who had realised that there has to be a change in the way we live our lives, and that change takes time. So what better way to make a difference than to motivate the next generation to help make the change. It is strongly my opinion that being environmentally considerate is something that has to be taught and not something we should just assume our children will "pick up" along the way.

Neutrally Beautiful
www.neutrallybeautiful.com