Stop, think and then make a good choice

As a retired teacher, September always offers up many reflections. An image came to mind this morning as I scanned current events in the news.

A simple poster of a stoplight hung on the wall in my kindergarten class. It was a visual reminder, helping young children develop impulse control and thinking skills. Red for “stop.” Yellow for “think/evaluate.” Green for” make a good choice.”

Brain research has shown that it takes the brain, even adult brains, three to five seconds to move from responding from the brain stem(react) to responding from the frontal lobe (thinking/evaluating ). Now, more than ever, I believe we could all ponder this simple strategy.

This planet home is not the same planet I was born onto some six decades ago. Regardless of facts and opinions on how changes have occurred, they have. Earth’s atmosphere has changed, consumption of non-renewable resources has escalated, food and water scarcity are realities across the globe, technology has aspects of that “double-edged sword” and the list continues.

Every day I make choices that affect the present and the future. It takes time and effort to stop and think. What can I conserve? How can I stop consuming so many non-renewable resources? How do I sort the facts from all the “ news noise” and polarized rhetoric? Do I believe I deserve to live the American dream without sacrifice and cooperation or can I find the courage to change and adapt my lifestyle and way of thinking? One hundred years from now I will not be here, but someone’s children and grandchildren will “inherit this earth.”

I believe each of us owes each other the time it takes to stop, think, make a good choice. Future generations and this planet’s durability depend upon our willingness to connect the dots between our choices and wide ranging consequences.

MARY TOLAND

Sagle