Hi all,
I have been thinking long and hard about what to write next on this blog, in the world of wildlife and conservation there is always something new happening or some news story that could be commented on. I hate preaching though and i am not going to just write something here, which tells you, the reader what to do, for us naturalists to make our point there needs to be understanding and sometimes people just do not know enough.
The other reason is that nothing has really been happening in my life, something which i have struggled with. I recently returned to Jersey from a year in South Africa and it has been a pretty hard landing to be honest. I really have found it hard to re-adjust to how different society is in the modern world and i have just not felt in the mood to blog. I do not want to be negative on here as negativity does nothing apart from create more negativity and uncertainty, but i feel that honesty is best.
At the moment i am unemployed and in a state of limbo as i wait for job opportunities or just any opportunity. I am still volunteering and helping out many great environmental causes (like at the Grassroots Festival in Jersey last weekend)but i am rather stuck at the moment as i try to do something with my life. I do not want sympathy or any of that. I would just like people to understand that creating a career in wildlife conservation takes many years and many small steps.
This then brings us into the topic of the personal challenges every conservationist or anyone working with wildlife faces on a day to basis of staying positive when the natural world is slowly crumbling around them.
The whole world of wildlife conservation is not well paid at all and has too many people applying for too fewer jobs. Yes, we do what we love and that must never be taken for granted, but to do this sort of work a person must love wildlife, or they will just take another direction. However, with this love comes concern, understanding, feelings and a connection to the natural world. This then brings a burden, a burden of trying to turn the tide, to save the planet and trying to find a balance and not be taken in by all the negativity concerning the state of the planet.
For me, it can be really hard, there is new research daily on climate change, biodiversity loss, the state of the oceans, species extinctions and if i were to think about all of it then my head will explode (not a good sight!). I had a great example just last night, I was out in St. Helier last night to meet a few good friends and i sore these two young chaps eating take-away (the food looked semi-edible) and what really annoyed me is that they just dropped all their litter and were not even bothered, a total lack of respect for the planet and believe you me, it took a lot of strength to not tear in to them. But what good would that do? Nothing, although it might of made me feel a bit better!
It really is a challenge for everyone who works with wildlife, one we must all go through, to find that level playing field. That balance of working hard for wildlife, yet enjoying your life and not feeling guilty about it as no-one can be 100% environmentally friendly.
Working with wildlife is the best career in the world, words really cannot describe it. However with this amazing honour,does come a lot of personal challenges for every individual trying to do their bit.
I promise that the next blog will be a lot more positive...
