Sleep wasn’t so restful last night. 

It was one of those nights where you know everything you stand for, everything you work for, and everything you value is being challenged by a dark, countervailing force. 

My sentiment this morning isn’t one of surprise, but one of disheartenment. It’s tough to see our society flailing, unmoored, and bedeviled by shiny objects that glorify greed, gluttony and a litany of “isms”. 

We live in the wealthiest nation on the planet, with unlimited sources of information, and more than enough resources to go around… but we’ve been hoodwinked by a message of scarcity. 

We don’t have to buy into it. 

The real reason my gears were turning last night was because of the work I know is coming. The headwinds are going to blow harder, the challenges will get more acute, and the pressures more pronounced. My team will be there for all of it, as will our partners, and the communities we serve. 

At Trees, Water & People (TWP) we’re taking the day to regroup and check in with one another, but we know that we can’t rest long. 

Climate change isn’t going away. Poverty won’t magically disappear. Equality won’t bloom on its own. 

…and history won’t write itself. 

We at TWP stand undeterred - frustrated, but defiant. Like an acorn planted by a river, and rooting into a mighty oak, we will stand our ground, and will not be moved. 

Let’s not let fearful and scarcity-minded people smother our purpose. We can choose abundance, diversity, and sustainability… and continue investing in the society we know can exist. 

So, when you’re ready, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and join us. 

We’re stronger together, and we have work to do. 

With love and solidarity, 

Sebastian and the TWP family