The Impact of No Impact Man

Watched the movie “No Impact Man”, a young NYC family’s oddyssey into leaving as little environmental impact as possible for a year. I feel inspired anew, and very touched by their humanness—their doubts and fears, the myriad issues —personal, political, practical, spiritual—that were stirred up along with the compost and soul search. The bigger point for me is, they stayed the course in spite of feeling failure, criticism, lack of support and understanding, and never came across (at least on film) as embittered or holier-than-thou segregationists. Instead, they reconnected with Nature and their ancestors, matured and broadened their community, and of course, brought far-reaching and lasting impact on everyone who heard or saw their process, including me. They heeded a call deep down, and took the journey, as well as the risks. Do I have that kind of courage and conviction and freshness of spirit, to stand up and act on behalf of my convictions? That’s the question I am asking myself tonight, that I am taking into my dreams.

The impact of no-impact... I feel the Daoists would greatly approve.