Think about your grandchildren. Whether they’re hypothetical or not, try to picture their cute little overalls and sticky fingers. Adorable! You want to smother them with affection and candy. If kids give you the ick, think about your pet instead. Feel their soft bellies as you scritch that spot that makes them kick their leg. Or feel the warmth of their little body as they curl up next to you on the couch. Okay, now that I’ve got you all up in your feels, hang onto those warm fuzzies. Because that personal touch is exactly what I need you to carry with you as you read the rest of this blog post. 

I’ll give you the point I’m trying to make upfront: the responsibility is on all of us to protect the outdoor spaces we live and play in. It’s a responsibility to ourselves, our grandchildren, our pets– every living creature. Past, present, and future. It doesn’t matter whether you consider yourself an outdoor recreationist or not. Why? Because public lands have an impact on everyone’s life. This fact is true regardless of how much time you do (or don’t) spend outdoors.

Public lands are a shared part of our collective identity as squishy creatures walking the Earth. Public lands are where we gather and practice community. And because community is crucial to the success of the human species, we have to protect the places where community happens. 

If you’re really not picking up what I’m putting down, I’ll fabricate an example to further drive my point: Jane is a woman who loathes the outdoors. She lives in Arizona and she prefers the creature comforts of her air conditioned home. Especially in the summertime. There are things that will sting and bite you out there! Jane says. She does not think she’s a land steward because she doesn’t spend a lot of time outside.

But, my dear Jane, have you considered the happiness you feel when you’re washing your dishes and looking out the window, admiring the birds tousling in the trees? Even a small feeling like that is a nod to the connection we all have to the outdoors. Even Jane is a land steward.

When you start to reframe your relationship with the outdoors in this way, it becomes easier to grasp the importance of protecting the environment. And once you understand the importance, you can start to take action. Try one small thing each day. Make a habit of it. Pass those habits onto your kids and your grandkids. The tiny acts of love we give to our outdoor spaces are really acts of love for ourselves, too. And that’s a lifestyle that will always give a good return on investment.