Holding the line

"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains."

The opening sentence of Rousseau's The Social Contract emphasises that humans thrive as part of nature and that we surrender some of our free will in moving to a 'civilised' society. The chains manifest as social contracts, laws, and institutions that regulate behaviour.

We are part of the natural ecosystem, and our environment is not just a given but a result of our decisions or the ones enforced on us. These decisions, big or small, can either nourish or harm us.

In recent months, I have had to surrender to something more potent than my tenacity and optimism for the future. My body had its warning signs. It rang out like an alarm that refuses to let me sleep. The muscles tense in preparation for action, and the panic of not making sense pulses through my veins. My quest for fairness and transparency had created immense pressure and a deep sense of responsibility to make a significant difference. This urgency was too much of a mind shift for the status quo. Despite my dedication and using my nature antidotes of sea swimming, running and yoga, something had to shift.

Last weekend, with a group of creative and determined leaders in sustainability, each drawn to a 'Reclaiming Agency' retreat, we reflected on our interpretation of 'holding the line'. Over the weekend, frustration and anger wained, and a sense of clarity emerged: to be part of a regenerative symbiotic future, we must find common ground. Only through compassion and love can we use our privilege to ensure decisions focus on the benefit of future generations. We share this driver with every other living organism on earth; protecting our kin is our most natural behaviour.

On the 4th of July, the American colonies declared Independence. They were tired of being ruled by Great Britain and wanted to become their own country. Today, the struggle for leadership on British soil will reveal whether, as a democracy, voters use their free will to change the balance of power. How will we hold accountable the institutions designed to protect people end up restricting our natural liberties?

I have never considered myself a perfectionist, but I strive to do my best with my intuition and the resources available to me. I have a personal bank of lived experience and am rich in community connections, woven together like a web on a trampoline. This flex cushions me when I fall or propels me forward when I am ready to bounce again. I am clear in my vision for a future where we return to the wisdom of nature, where diversity thrives, and where communities are trusted to explore and discover solutions. The shift required is away from the old power that owns and controls to a new model of participation enabled by peer coordination and the agency of the crowd.

I am immensely grateful to my guides and generous people, helping me to better connect good people and good causes and create something new.