The road to sustainability is not paved with small, simple choices each of us can make without care or consequence. It turns out there aren't 50 simple things we can do to save the earth. And there simply is no way that we will ever consume our way to environmental, spiritual, or mental health. Similarly, a sustainable society will not arise on the basis of a relatively small circle of concerned, committed souls opting to reduce the environmental impact of their existence by downshifting, minimizing consumption, or otherwise voluntarily simplifying their lives. That's easier said than done.
Sustainability is a squishy and scary concept.
You're hardly alone, Sherry. Few policymakers, professors, or other so-called experts can explain the concept of sustainability in terms that are meaningful to the average Jane or Joe. But it can be done. Allow me to give it a shot. Sustainability is a big word that describes a lot of small but extraordinary deeds done by ordinary people every day.