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Health & Fitness

Sandy Motivation – Becoming a Better Me!

Super-storm Sandy - six months later; reflections and implications

I think about climate change a lot. Maybe because it’s part of what I do; as an advocate for solar power, I read up on the catastrophic consequences of a warming world as part of my daily morning routine and it is daunting. Here in the US, we see allergies getting worse, favorite foods disappearing, an increase in devastating fires and of course, extreme weather events. I’m affected as we are all affected -- there's no doubt about that! However, after Superstorm Sandy struck, my personal temperature, if you will, rose a number of degrees higher.
 
My family, as well as many of my friends and neighbors, were left with no home, no car, no school, no power, and no means of communication with the outside world for many days after the storm ravaged the Atlantic Beach, NY area. After “gypsying” around for a few weeks, my husband, two children, and I were very fortunate to settle into a temporary residents while we began rebuilding our home. It's hard to believe that six months have gone by! I feel like it was just yesterday we were feeling around the darkness for clothes as the fishy odors filled our home and we were in search of a place to shower. We are beyond grateful to be back home already, albeit still knee deep in construction activity. We will be for awhile, but that's OK because we are home.

Undoubtedly, much sadness still lurks around our neighborhood as many of our favorite restaurants and stores remain closed, some with no sign of life at all; our boardwalk is blockaded off; and so many families  are still very much distraught and displaced. As I travel around, the images of homes being lifted on stilts is mind-boggling. Our new reality is a direct consequence of climate change. New building codes and flood elevations are being enforced, sand dunes are being built, and the planning for the next “100-year storm” is well underway as the realization is hitting everyone – it will occur again much, much sooner.

Yet oddly, this is how I feel Sandy has made me a better person: The cliché of “quality over quantity” is my new mantra. While we lost a tremendous amount of “stuff,” I have no desire to replace it all. Some, unfortunately, cannot be replaced, but the items that can I now carefully consider whether or not they were “necessary” to begin with. I feel lighter and more focused with this new simplified approach to life. With that focus I see clearly the most rewarding “aftermath” opportunity -- a door is wide open to change our course, provide a better future for our children, and do some good. 

The earth is on a destructive course, and Sandy was a rude awakening to do something about it. As I emerge from the storm these many months later, I've harnessed my desire to try!



Raina Russo is co-founder and president of EcoOutfitters.net, which provides information about the costs, benefits, incentives and environmental impact of renewable energy solutions. As a staunch advocate of solar energy, Russo founded #SolarChat, a bi-monthly conversation facilitated primarily via Twitter that connects solar and renewable industry experts with solar-curious consumers to discuss issues relevant to solar energy, solar PR, solar hot water, climate change, etc. The goal of #SolarChat is to make solar a reality for every home and business across America. As part of #SolarChat, Russo maintains active social communities for those interested in solar and renewable energy on TwitterFacebook, LinkedInInstagram, and Pinterest. Russo holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and served as a project engineer with Skanska USA, the number one green contractor in the U.S.

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