This time of year, through the generosity of local folks, churches and businesses, a few of us gather up trucks and trailers full of donated goods.  Then we get to play Santa Claus delivering items to needy folks in rural Mississippi. 

     John was the new guy this year.  He’s a free spirited sort who ended up driving the lead truck.  For John, a posted 70 mph speed limit means you can drive at 77 and not likely tickle Smokey’s radar gun.  So we did.   And I, not wanting to sound like an old fuddy-dud about the speed, dutifully kept apace behind.   That additional 7 mph got us to the first drop off location early, so we killed time while awaiting the Mississippi coordinators’ arrival.  Hmmm… what exactly had we gained besides poorer gas mileage and less safe travel?

     Perhaps that road trip is a bit like modern America’s view of progress.  We’re in a big hurry to enshrine economic prosperity as the primary indicator of success.  America is very skilled at generating wealth.  Our  $17 trillion dollar economy surpasses all others.  You’d think that winning the “riches race” would make us the happiest people on Earth.  Far from it.

     This year’s Measurement of Well-Being and Progress ranking from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development places the U.S. just 15th out of the 34 member nations.  And in a recent Gallup well-being index the U.S. fell from 12th to 23rd in the world.  Our rush down the yellow brick road of economic success leaves us without a wizard at the end.

     Commercialism wants us to believe that the consumption of more goods will be the key to our well-being.  Black Friday encroaches upon our national day of giving thanks followed by Cyber Monday.  Only then does Giving Tuesday arrive.  In a meaningful life, isn’t this backwards?

     Economic security is important, but it’s just one corner of the so-called “Golden Triangle” of happiness.  A more fulfilling life would grant more attention to the other two corners - a sense of purpose and strong personal/social relationships.  That would also ease the pressure our consumptive lifestyle places on Earth’s finite resources.

     This holiday season I know one old fuddy-dud who plans to slow down and better appreciate what he already has.  It’ll make for a healthier world on this, the only home we’ll ever know, here forever…Earthbound.”

     It was another hard day of negotiations at the 2015 U.N. Climate Change Conference.  Several delegates commiserated as they unwound at a sidewalk café.
     “Whew, finding common ground is a challenge!” Li Chan grumbled.
     “Getting 149 countries to agree on anything?  Zut alors!” lamented Pierre.
     “It’s this business of changing entrenched ways of thinking about how to use energy that’s so vexing,” remarked Ahmin.
     “If only we had a model of an organization that’s actually lowered its carbon footprint without spending a bundle of money.  Maybe then we’d be able to apply what it’s learned to the rest of us across the globe,” Ngunda mused.
     Joe, the delegate from Southwest Wisconsin, caught that last comment as he ordered his citron presse’.  “Now’s my chance,” he thought.  Joe pulled up a chair and introduced himself.
     “I think we actually have just the kind of model you’re looking for.  It’s down the road from where I live back home.  The Gundersen Health System (GHS) has 61clinics and 6 hospitals centered in La Crosse, WI.  They’ve made a phenomenal transformation toward environmental sustainability.  Get a load of this!”  Joe exclaimed.
     He ticked off a number of Gundersen’s accomplishments since 2008:

• Elimination of the use of styrofoam
• Reduction of cafeteria food waste by 80%
• 94% reduction of pharmaceutical waste
  
• CO2 emissions reduced by 85%
• 75% reduction is mercury emissions
• Almost 80% reduction in atmospheric particulate matter.

    “And instead of these improvements costing money, they’re actually making money on the deal.   GHS’s initial system-wide investment in energy conservation and new systems cost $2 million.  Those investments paid for themselves in less than 2 years.  Every year since then Gundersen has saved $1.2 million annually!  Their sustainability investment “earns” them an annual profit of 10 -12%.  That’s about twice the rate of their conventional portfolio.  And the environmental benefit is phenomenal.  What’s not to like?
    “Sacre bleu!” cried Pierre.  “This is just what we’ve been looking for!  Leave it to you clever Wisconsinites to find the key!”
    “Thanks Pierre,” Joe replied.  “It just goes to show that we CAN build a sustainable world.  Not only that, we’ll save money by doing so.  With today’s technologies there really are no more excuses.  After all, we have a shared future on this single planet, our only home. Let’s make it a healthy and prosperous one.  We’re here together forever…Earthbound.”