SARAH SCOTT

At the end of 2020 I was reflecting back on a tumultuous year. The Covid-19 pandemic had forced us all to change our lives, physically isolate ourselves from each other and adapt to new ways of working and being in the world. I was troubled by the scarcity mindset that I saw all around me – people hoarding toilet paper and hand sanitizer, businesses rushing to get PPP loans that they may not have truly needed, and buyers promising sellers $100k+ over the list price for a home in order to beat out the competition.

I was also seeing this scarcity thinking manifesting in land and resource management. Climate fatigue led many to abandon their pre-pandemic climate resilience goals and instead get excited by the prospects of a billionaire flying a rocket into space as if to say “this planet is doomed, let’s get another.”

Heading into 2021 I made it my goal to resist this scarcity thinking and instead live with an abundance mindset. With tremendous gratitude for this place in which we live I wrote a mission statement for my real estate business, committed to donating a sizable portion of my commission to local non-profit organizations and began educating others on land ethics and ways in which we can become climate resilient. I knew it wouldn’t be for everyone, but I wasn’t afraid because I believe the best hope for our collective future is to adapt to our changing planet with compassion, participation and justice. In 2021 I was able to donate nearly $9,000 to local nonprofits. I helped clients buy and sell homes, create gardens, wildlife habitat, and compost bins. I made deeper connections, gained greater knowledge, and was overwhelmed with gratitude and joy.

Due to the recent Marshall Fire our community now has nearly a thousand new climate refugees. Families and individuals are struggling to find immediate housing while grieving lost pets, homes and heirlooms. In times like these it is perhaps more important to keep that abundance mindset and be grateful for what remains and how we can help one another. Please consider ways you can give back, either monetarily or by sharing your knowledge, resources and experience. Together we can make 2022 a better year for all.