Visions of My Future

Yesterday, Adamah had a segment of its leadership development program for each member to summarize in five minutes his/her future path and/or goals in life. I was offered the opportunity to do the same at dinner. Now, in reflective preparation to be featured in an upcoming PC Weenies cartoon, I've thought further about where I've been so far in life, what might be next, and how it all fits together on my path of life. Here's my summary:

So . . .

At heart I am an environmentalist and also a Mac power user. These aspects of my life are constantly clashing because of all the toxins and heavy metals used to produce my computer of choice. However, for the moment, I accept that Apple is doing its best so far to keep products Earth-friendly and will continue to improve over time. Its environment Web page is pretty comprehensive and attractive.

On the Mac side, I'm an independent consultant with a handful of individual users. With patience and simplicity, I help them become more productive and effective in their computing experiences. My business is called Sustainable Computing.

On the Earth side, I'm currently working for the Teva Learning Center, a Jewish environmental education program for Jewish day school students in the New England and Mid Atlantic regions. My role has been primarily administrative and technical in supporting the staff, whilst watching them suffer on their Windows PCs. No offense, though, to an organization that can't afford more than donated computers at the moment.

Soon, I'll be returning to my home in Takoma Park, Maryland, and my job at the DC Energy Office (District of Columbia Government) where I'm engaged in a range of environmental programs. DCEO is a completely Windows-based office except one: me. I carry my office to work and use my PowerBook there because I just can't be productive on Windows. I don't handle much tech support there, but I'm always noticing how people's workspaces are slowed by the narrow functionality of Outlook, for example.

My overall visions for my life: simplicity through effective communication; care for the Earth based on common sense; from pieces, peace. The latter perhaps a new interpretation of E Pluribus Unum, now that I think about it.