circularsolutions

[circularsolutions]

How Can We Change the World When We Are So Sad?

What other choice do we have? Why would we not try?

“find things that make you happy and do more of those”. How can I do more of community resiliency planning and land use change? I feel a calling to do this work, and need to search for ways to be more proactive in my goals. 

Getting a job related to these things. That is the imperative. Where I can make a living wage while helping neighborhoods better handle the climate disasters that are bound to come with ever increasing fervor. Where can I start?

[circularsolutions]

Showing up

They say that writing is an act of habit. That I cannot just sit around and wait for inspiration to strike. 

I have been sitting here waiting for something better to come along. I am tired of being so passive in my work, my career, my life. Tired of waiting around and hoping things will work their way into my future. 

Sitting with my intentions alongside my cold morning coffee. I struggle to pull myself up and get out. To go into the world and complete the tasks that my measly paycheck asks of me. I am tired of it. And when I grow tired of something it makes it really really difficult for me to do. 

As with many things in life, the solution is to work more into the equation. To balance these feelings of elusiveness with ambition and planning. What do I want to do? How can I make that happen? Where do I need to place my energy, and what more can I cultivate into fruition?

Change. Something new. Something more. I want to learn and explore and discover. I want purpose and connection and goals. I want more. 

I’m going to start writing again. This time on purpose, without a stroke of inspiration. It may be awful at first, but that is the only way to get better. 

A theme, a story, a question to explore. Research, understand, translate into my own explanation. Each week. I wish to explore something new. 

Cultivating abundance. Proactive living. I yearn for more. 

[circularsolutions]

I went to Portland this weekend

I mostly liked the moss covering nearly everything. Washington Park was a highlight, full of trees overlooking the city, and a grid street system arranged both alphabetically and numerically helped me to immediately orient myself. The light rail cost $2.50 and transferred me between the airport and four blocks from where I stayed. All over, old homes are being replaced with medium density (4-6 story) multifamily complexes. The northwest neighborhoods are a pleasant mixture of new and old housing, shops, restaurants, and tree lined green streets speckled with parks. The city blocks are small and most of the area is easily walkable. 

What I did not enjoy included the drug induced homeless population and the massive highways that cut through the town and litter riverside views. With seven bridges connecting one side of the river to the other, I wonder what it would take to repurpose a few. One could be a dedicated pedestrian boardwalk running over the river. Two more would allow only public transit and light rail. There’s a highway running parallel to the water that should be replaced by a nature walk and a few cafes to provide a public space and entertainment while taming the constant noise that disturbs the peace of the riverside. Pollution to air and water would also be curbed, potentially opening up the river to swimming and other water based activities. In my vision, the upgraded waterfront is full of lively neighborhoods designed to both provide greenery, play areas, and infrastructure to protect against heavy rains or flooding. 

Walking around Portland shows there is no need for large highways cutting through the city. In fact, I see an opportunity for much of the concrete to be destructed and recycled, instead of developing the sprawling suburbs that pave over some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in this country. I wish to see urban investment that reinvigorates the dead parts of central downtown and attract more people to live within the city limits.

I would say that Portland has good bones, albeit many bruised spots. There are plenty of other aspects involved in building successful cities that are not outlined here. Though if I were to be in charge, I would begin with community led planning, well designed infill development, and robust volunteer restoration and clean up projects to jump start neighborhood resilience in the worst parts of town.

[circularsolutions]

Now what is it we are actually talking about?

Saving the world, of course. Someone’s got to do it, might as well be me. 

Easy steps to get there. 

Electrify everything. Make renewable/sustainable power. Lay infrastructure. Design cities well with moderate density. Be creative with land use. Conserve what you can, build the rest with minimal impact. Outlaw suburban lawns. Retrofit existing buildings. Create really good new ones. Capture waste, use it as a resource. Reinvest in the community. Tax the wealthy. Invest in pilot trials. Reimagine the process frequently. Scrap what doesn’t work. Constantly evolve. Engage others. Ask for advice. Listen. Consume less. Create whimsical spaces. Prioritize public transportation. Cultivate community. Plant native vegetation. Care for one another. 

#howtosavetheworld

[circularsolutions]

Welcome to my blog,

A place where I plan to curate and articulate some thoughts on the subjects I find interesting and important. It may seem like a ramble at first, but hopefully my expressions become more coherent and researched over time.

Feel free to contact me with insights, suggestions, or conversation.

Cheers,

D