From the
Executive Director of Earth Care International
Taylor Selby

Many people ask me how I can be so darn happy while so many bad things are going on in the world. In Santa Fe, our aquifers are threatened by mining and radioactivity, we have reached “peak water” and are proposing to pump surface water from the Rio Grande. We have created social systems that favor the “haves” over the “have-nots.” Even in this affluent town, thousands of people live in poverty. The issues that plague our community and the world are very serious.

After studying and teaching sustainability full-time for seven years now, I can say that my happiness is not due to my ignorance. It’s easy to smile with your head in the sand, but with your eyes and heart open? Now that takes some work. I’d like to share with you what keeps me moving on a positive path.

POTENTIAL: When we unite toward the common good, I believe that anything is possible. We have
everything we need to create a society in balance with the natural world; one that is just and thriving.

GRATITUDE: I am grateful for the beauty of nature, from the subtle to the sublime. I enjoy the glow of the sun rising over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the trickling sound of the Santa Fe River, and the enchanting calls of the red winged blackbirds.

SHARE ABUNDANCE: I give as much as I am able. I give houseplant clippings to friends, I distribute the abundance of garden harvests to my neighbors, and I donate to non-profits. I find my happiness increases the more I serve others.

DO: I restore the land around my house by digging swales and planting native seeds. I work with the next generation to advance their social and ecological consciousness.

BE: The more peaceful and compassionate I can be, the happier I am.

With patience, I hope to continue to get better in these five areas of my life.

I believe that if we remain hopeful and in action then we can accomplish anything. I find that I am the most effective and I feel the best when I am operating out of love, compassion, reverence and happiness. It’s not
always easy to choose a path of peace in the face of challenges, but I am committed to the practice.

In muddy waters, peace brings clarity.

Sustainability is much more than solar panels, hybrid cars, and gardens. It is our individual and collective journey to live up to our fullest potential as human beings on a finite planet. It is about keeping what we want, what is healthy and good; and releasing and removing that which doesn’t serve us.

Sustain-Ability is our ability to keep (sustain) what we want. After many years of asking groups of young people and fellow community members what is important to them, it is apparent that deep down within ourselves, we all pretty much want the same things.

We want healthy water, air, and land.
We want a diversity of vibrant cultures.
We want art in all its creative forms.
We want good jobs to provide for our families.
We want places to intimately connect with nature.
We want everyone to have equal access to health care, housing and education.
We want safety, happiness, and most importantly love.

Holding the same vision is a significant first step.
Sustainability is our journey.

Taylor Selby is the Executive
Director and Co-Founder of Earth Care International. He has a Masters in Environment and Community. Taylor has worked for Paul Hawken and was the Vice Chair for the Permaculture Credit Union. Taylor is currently a member of the Sustainable
Santa Fe Commission.

“There is nothing we can do that can’t be done.”
- The Beatles