Page 2 - Sonoma County Gazette - January 2018

Dear Readers,
People keep making comments like - what a terrible year 2017 turned out to be - good riddance! But really...only if you look at the negative side.
Sure, there’s plenty of negative. No doubt about that. From our immensely destructive fires to national politics. But rather than focus on the horrors, we can use these opportunities to fix things that are broken.
As my wonderful husband, Alan, can testify, I have a passion for fixing things, from broken chairs to injured people. It took time, but I have learned not to injure myself while I am trying to fix something. OK, I fell of a ladder recently trying to fix the roof of the clubhouse I built my granddaughter, but that is NOT symbolic! It’s an example of my obsession for finishing what I started. For wanting to make something better than it was before.
Nationally, we can look at the #ME-TOO! movement as an opportunity to create awareness of a topic that lives undercover in so many ways. Did you know that glass identifiers at parties are a signal that a person will walk away from their drink and that’s an opportunity to spike it with rape drugs? Did you know that there’s hardly a female in your circle of friends who hasn’t been abused by a male in some way? Kind men don’t know that. They don’t think that way. But women know. And now, they are sharing their painful stories. That’s GOOD!. It makes us stronger. It makes young girls aware of what they are facing. That makes them stronger. Awareness is a tool for strength.
Locally, our fires brought people together connecting need with help. Right from the start people were reaching out to strangers. Kindness continues
every day, months after the fire This is a long project to FIX our home from its injuries. Some of the fixes are housing and land- use. Using modern building techniques and materials, we can make buildings safer. Preserving open spaces as barriers in harms way can protect us in the future. We can learn from countries like Australia that changed laws, and in the process has
prevented loss they suffered in the past.
We have a lot to learn - we can do this....
In Love With Earth
Cover photo by Leslie Curchack
2018 Calendars & Prints of her photos can be purchased at earthlovinglens.com Leslie donates the profits from calendar sales to Daily Acts, Sonoma County’s non- profit organization that has changed the way people think, live, and act in their daily lives...to be conscious of the impact we have through our actions every day.
To learn more, please visit dailyacts.org...because every choice matters.
2 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 1/18