We have to start somewhere :)

Over the past 20+ years I’ve tried to figure out ways as a designer, maker, teacher, entrepreneur, father, husband, co-worker, and community member to do something positive.

After many years of trying lots of different things, I’ve decided the next thing I want to try is building new systems, strategies, and supports that can outlive me and repair the damage done by extractive and exploitative economic practices. The practices and harm, to people and the planet, are so big and overwhelming at times, it can be hard to see oneself as having any real impact. Even with that, I find myself day-in and day-out moved to do something.

I know we aren’t going to recycle ourselves out of one system and into another.

The systems in place today didn’t manifest overnight. They weren’t created by an individual or group of individuals with a master plan or implementation strategy. They were built overtime, over generations, influenced by values, and by imposing a vision onto others (through might, power, and influence).

We can build new systems through collaboration, mutual support, and collective effort. People are doing this all day everyday all around the world. Some people have been doing this in spite of and because of the negative aspects we experience, while others have built healthy, regenerative, and supportive systems because they don’t know any different. For those of us working on learning new ways of being in the world, this is going to take time and effort, humility and excitement, connection and inspiration.

And I have to start somewhere.

For me, my (next) start is focusing on collecting materials, working with my community, and finding ways to “bend” energy, resources, attention, and effort towards the region I live in, to the people in my community.

I’m leaning into the unknown, not knowing if my business will work, not knowing if my impact will be big, not knowing if others will agree with me, not knowing a lot of things … and I’m trying it anyway :)