I’m Afraid the Earth Will Die Before I Get a 401K
Confession: Climate anxiety regularly infiltrates my job search process.
I think most young people freak out about climate change on a semi-regular basis. And understandably so! We hear about it all the time: the sea levels are rising, the coral is dying, and Florida might go underwater. Not to mention that factory farming is leeching the nutrients out of our soil, we're eating an obscene amount of high-carbon-footprint meat, and pretty much everyone has been poisoned with micro-plastics.
Need I go on?
I have always felt particularly brokenhearted for what feels like a dying earth. Despite the fact that I'm generally optimistic, and have faith that we'll collectively be able to turn things around (scientists are like, so smart), I still get hit with the overwhelming urge to take action.
Unfortunately, the idea of climbing the corporate ladder feels horribly misaligned with those goals. Why would I pick a job with an hour commute (carbon emissions from driving) to help a giant corporation maximize sales (encouraging irresponsible overconsumption) and essentially commit the majority of my conscious hours to existing within a sterile, overly air-conditioned cubicle (disconnection with earth's natural beauty and provision)?
Disclaimer: If I have described something resembling your life, please take no offense. I understand that our world is structured in a way that makes this kind of path very common, and by no means do I think that it's prescriptively 'bad'. There are wonderful businesses, kind people, and many ways of living your life in a positive way.
I just happen to be at the beginning of my working life, and in a bit of a dry spell (read: unemployed), so I have lots of time to think about these things. Imagination is a gift, and I have been pondering and exploring other ways of living, in the hopes that I come up with a path that might be more eco-responsible.
And so I begin to wonder... Should I put a career on hold for 20 years and go volunteer on organic farms? Should I devote myself to writing climate fiction (affectionately referred to as cli-fi)? Should I find a very ordinary job but become the annoying coworker that rambles about reusable Tupperware and seasonal food ingredients? Should I drop everything and spend my savings on a lavish trip to Australia to snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef before it's gone forever?
You can see how this line of questioning might lead to some anxiety. Thus, while I spend hours entering my employment history onto job application portals and writing my thousandth cover letter, I ask for a little extra empathy.
I doubt that I'm alone in this slightly unhinged line of overthinking. And so I implore you, if you happen to have a flailing young person in your circle of influence, to keep the following things in mind:
Please understand that when we 'question the system'––be it capitalism, a 9-5 job, the suburbs, etc––it is not just to be contrarian, rebellious, or annoying. We are genuinely quite scared about what the future holds, and want to make choices that will lead to a bright future for us all.
Climate activism is a group effort, and we want your help. You don't need to cry every time you buy a plastic water bottle; shame gets us nowhere. But maybe... try meatless Mondays! Visit some national parks. Bike to work every now and then. Borrow a dress instead of buying a new one. And even if you can't imagine changing a single thing about your lifestyle... just befriend a climate-conscious person! We could probably use a hug.
Lastly, as a call to us all: I hope that we can fall in love with nature again. There is much wisdom to be gleaned and beauty to be enjoyed from her. And I hope that in getting to know her better, we can learn how to best steward her back to health.
I will end this article by giving a shoutout to Zac Efron's Netflix show, "Down to Earth with Zac Efron." Watching all the scientists and plucky citizens putting their best foot forward to pursue health and environmental conservation has really brightened my week. I recommend it!
Love,
Anika
