I know I won’t be the only person feeling physically sick this morning. How many of us will have a day today where we feel we are going through the motions, rearranging the deckchairs?

As I’ve got older I’ve come to realise how complicated the world is. My privileged upbringing protected me from the dark underbelly of humanity. I understand that there are fundamentally different world views held between different human beings, almost as if we are different species. Yet that doesn’t make it any easier when I try and understand why such different views of right and wrong, good and bad, and better and worse are held.

I listened to someone on their phone at the train station today talking about the challenges of price increases for their children’s private boarding schools. I felt disassociation.

So for those who believe fervently in the importance of climate action, in the criticality of equality, diversity and inclusion, and in the value of constructive challenge in being our best authentic selves, where next?

A little voice in my head is saying ‘what’s the point anymore, maybe it’s time to find another path of personal fulfilment to take?’. But the bigger voice in my head is saying ‘it’s more than just you, it’s your children and grandchildren, there is more work to be done, never give up!’.

I’m reminded of a comment I read in a book recently about activism. Now I know not everyone feels comfortable with the word activism – but for me it speaks to the actions of those who feel strongly enough about climate action and/or EDI that they are prepared to speak truth to power, peacefully protest, change careers and so on. The book’s comment was that the essence of activism (with reference to the shining example of Martin Luther King) was not doing something because you necessarily expected to achieve your goal in your lifetime or perhaps even ever, but doing it because you knew it was the right thing to do.

This morning is about doubling down on a conviction to do the right thing to do.

There has been a lot of talk in the transport sector in recent months of infrastructure resilience. It seems rather odd that it has only appeared to come strongly into consciousness so recently when we have known about our ageing infrastructure and the climate emergency for a long time. This morning I am also very mindful of human resilience in the face of quite alarming global geopolitical developments and the continued urgency of doing something about the climate and nature emergencies.

So let’s try and bolster each other’s resilience and remain resolute about doing what we believe is right.

P.S. On mornings like this, having heavy metal playing in my ears is essential.

#climateaction
#equalitydiversityinclusion

#professionalism

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