**Even if it's only at 1%, always do something for continuous improvement

[[Reading practice: High intermediate/Low Advanced]]

Words and phrases like this have definitions at the end!

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“I don’t want to protect the environment, I want to create a world where the environment doesn’t need protecting”

- Unknown

Earth Day every day.

Me personally, I don’t actually do anything specific for Earth Day; I have never been compelled to, actually.

For me, living with respect for, in tune with, the Earth, and what it provides; its wisdom, beauty, restorative energies; that’s something that I have, over the past few years, aimed to do naturally, as a part of my natural being. It’s something that has evolved for me more and more within the last couple years, particularly.

I would say that, as I grow in living more and more in symbiosis with nature, I don’t particularly need to play into Earth Day. At the same time, Earth Day could be used as a day of reaffirmation, or perhaps reflection, rather than a day of focused education and awareness………….

I don’t particularly need a day of focused education and awareness if I am making strides to regularly give such things attention on the regular.

And then, well, I’ve always assumed Earth Day to be a day of lectures and whatnot; so I’m not even really sure how it’s “celebrated”. I have seen other countries have something akin to festivals; events with food and entertainment; I’ve never caught word nor noticed any such thing here.

Again, though, I’ve never been compelled to look.

However, it’s an immensely important day none the less; those that need the “wake-up call”; that need the education, to become aware; to wake up. For those that have little or no connection to nature.

If there are such fun and entertaining things, events, and it’s not just a day of lectures and whatnot, then, that is truly great!

I’d like Earth Day to be that spark that starts people on the road to re-connection. Of realizing that what good they do for Gaia, Earth, they do for the benefit of themselves as well.

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[[Meanings of Words and Phrases]]

Compelled: To do something out of need, necessity, (or because you are forced to)

"in tune with":To have a good understanding of, to be in agreement with, something (or someone) (idiom)

Restorative: To restore

Natural being: My true, natural self, a part of the type of person I am

Symbiosis; A relationship of mutual, shared benefit; a relationship of intimate, or very close cooperation

"to play into": The full phrase is “play into someone’s hands”, which means you are unknowingly doing something that someone else, like a rival, wants you to do, or something that you do unintentionally that is greatly useful, beneficial, to someone else (like a rival).

This is generally a negative action.

I am using it a little differently here, with less negativity. 

In this case,it means not being interested in being constantly surrounded by, or encountering,the selected fanfare (stylish activity with the intention of attracting attention) of the day. It’s the idea that I’d rather do things my way instead of being directed and lead by the agenda (plan, intent) of someone else.

Reaffirmation: To affirm again, stating something again to emphasize (make it known) that something is still true

"making strides to" Making important, positive developments in something, towards something

"attention on the regular"To give regular attention to something

"and whatnot" .... and other similar things (casual phrase)

AkinHaving a similar quality, being similar to something

"caught word" Didn’t hear or see anything relating to the topic, never became knowledgeable of something, or anything said previously relating to the topic (casual phrase)

nor: (grammar) Conjunction that adds a second point to a negative phrase

"any such thing": an alternate version of “no such thing” which is used to say that something does not exist, is not real. Using the word “any” exaggerates the phrase.

Immensely:A stronger version of the word “extremely” (hugely)

"none the less"An alternate version of nevertheless (however, despite that)

"wake-up call"Something that inspires a change in behavior, attitude, or way of thinking (idiom)

"spark that starts people on the road"

“spark that starts” = the start of something

“on the road” = a way to achieve something. 

The full phrase means that people will be inspired to work towards a specific goal.

Gaia: Another word for Earth; in Greek mythology, Gaia is the personification of Earth