The older generations describe a much different idea of sustainability due to the times they grew up in. However, today they are starting to understand the importance of sustainability, and appreciate their sense of place, and surroundings. Upon asking my grandma what she thought of sustainability, and what it meant, she did not know the true definition, but most people don't. However, my grandma thought her idea of what sustainability was using things in a way you can continue to have them, so they will not completely be gone, and so you can have them for the future, and future generations. I asked her about her sense of place, and you what she thought about her natural surroundings; she said everyday she talks a walk early in the morning in her neighborhood, and sometimes at dusk. She said she walks around the ponds in her backyard, and how much she loves it, and all the relaxing sounds. She told me about how she feeds the geese, and ducks that hang around the pond, and how they all come up to her as soon as she comes out with bread. My grandmother says it makes her very happy to feed, and see the geese and ducks, and that she loves having them nearby. She said she loves her natural surroundings, and how much she appreciates God blessing her to be able to still have it, and appreciate it. She definitely believes we should conserve the remaining natural environments, and that so much is developed that sometimes its sort of sad that people don't have as much of a concern for leaving somethings the way they are, especially since she thinks there has already been enough of everything built; she believes that with so much development already, what is the point of destroying more and more environments, and species that wont ever be able to be rebuilt, or come back.
Her upbringing differed way more then mine. Her, like my grandfather came to America during, or before the Great Depression. My grandmother came from Ireland in late 1920s as a young girl. Obviously her family did not come with much at all, and her family came and had to work extremely hard, not live in the best environments. My grandma has worked virtually her whole life, and didn't start going to college-type classes until much later in her life. Although very successful, because of the dreams that America can foster, she worked as a lunch lady for many years. This offered many benefits, and continues to benefit her some money, insurance, and many other benefits. I told her about University Colloquium, and how we learn about the local ecosystems around Florida Gulf Coast University, and I told her about how the course really stresses an understanding, and a striving for sustainability, and the safe practicing of using resources, and conserving many of the remaining natural areas. My grandmother found it very interesting, she thought that for her generation in it's time it might have not been that important, but especially now and for future generations, and with so many people in the world, that it is now more important than ever to conserve, and use the remaining resources efficiently, and sustainably so we can continue to have them for ourselves, but especially the future generations, and the generations after that. I think because of the time she grew up in she had a different perspective on sustainability growing up, and sometimes it was necessary to just try and survive. However, today she knows the importance and sees that it is important to use things sustainably, and that if we don't utilize our resources efficiently, then the resources can be completely depleted. She thought my course sounded very interesting, and that it was important, and good that I was learning about these issues. She thinks they are more important now than ever, especially for the people of the next generations to come. It is interesting, and good to me to know her history, and her perspective, and how it has changed. It helps me better understand my grandmother, and people in general. Sustainability is important, especially maybe not for us, but for the people of the generations to come; they are the ones who really have to deal with the consequences of our actions, for better or for worse.
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