“There is absolutely no inevitability as long as there is a willingness to contemplate what is happening.” Marshall McLuhan

Funny thing about the inevitable, it’s not always inevitable. Just ask the undefeated New England Patriots when everyone was sure their biggest Super Bowl Sunday chore was choosing the color of the party hats.

Inevitability has a flip side; expect the unexpected. Having been an inhabitant of earth for nearly 6 decades, I feel qualified to say that this should be one of those golden rules of life – a basic tenet by which we should all live, right up there with “time is money” and “wash behind your ears.”

But the unexpected often needs a little boost; what would have happened if the NY Giants also believed that the Patriots were the presumptive champion?

What about the inevitability of climate change? OK, I accept it. What I don’t accept is the inevitability that acting is futile. If the Dutch had had such an attitude they’d be French. They might still be, but that’s another story.

I think we’d do well to adopt a healthier attitude toward the inevitability of climate change and climate related species extinctions and expecting the unexpected and by following some simple rules:

Avoid depression. Save it for your relationships or lack thereof and widening butt, stuff you really can’t do anything about;

Don’t assume that we as individuals are powerless – initiative engenders more initiative which engenders creativity and new ideas and deeper community camaraderie and activism, which moves government;

Pressure your elected representatives on every level to look for immediate workable solutions in step with the best science on carbon sequestration and emissions reductions.

The most important of these solutions is likely the cheapest – to empower nature. Ecosystems are extremely resilient but only if we give them the space to be so. That means:

• protecting old-growth forests – the most fire resistant trees – and protecting and restoring these and other natural ecosystems where opportunity exists. This will have the practical effect not only of providing habitat and clean water but securing millions of tons of carbon
• enforcing and fully funding laws like the Endangered Species Act , which is supposed to protect plants and animals and the habitats on which they depend, thus encouraging ecosystem resilience
• encouraging more wilderness and protected areas and land uses that allow plants and animals to “migrate” or adjust to changing habitat conditions; 

Hey, it’s possible we might turn this careening carbon train around. Expect the unexpected, but don’t assume that expecting is a spectator sport. After all there is a difference between self-fulfilling prophecy and inevitability.

Besides, if you keep busy you won’t have time to be depressed, and you’ll burn more calories. That will be good since, with the warmer temps, you’ll be spending more time at the beach.