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Why Earth Day Matters and How You Can Make a Difference

April 19, 2025 In EDITORIAL 2 Mins Read

Sag Harbor, Long Island, Hamptons
Photo Credit: Vanessa Leggard

Why Earth Day Matters — And How You Can Make a Difference

April 22 is more than just another day on the calendar—it’s Earth Day, a powerful reminder that we share a responsibility to protect the planet we call home.

Started in 1970, Earth Day sparked a movement that brought environmental concerns to the forefront. Today, more than 190 countries around the world take part in events, campaigns, and everyday actions that aim to build a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.

This year’s theme, “Planet vs. Plastics,” focuses on one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time: plastic pollution. From oceans and forests to our own communities, plastic waste is everywhere—and it’s harming wildlife, ecosystems, and even our health. Earth Day encourages each of us to do what we can to reduce our use of single-use plastics and find more sustainable alternatives.

AI produced
Photo Credit: Vanessa Leggard

But Earth Day is about more than just plastics. It’s about:
• Conserving energy
• Reducing food waste
• Supporting eco-friendly businesses
• Protecting green spaces
• Educating ourselves and others

You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to change everything overnight. But small changes, made consistently, add up. Bring a reusable bag, skip the plastic straw, recycle mindfully, and talk to your community about why this matters.

The truth is—every day is Earth Day when we choose to live with intention and care. Let this April 22 be your invitation to do a little more, speak a little louder, and love this planet a little harder.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff. Be Grateful.

September 11, 2018 In EDITORIAL 3 Mins Read

On this anniversary of 9/11, I’m reminded how easily we get wrapped up in things that truly don’t matter. We hold onto anger with loved ones. We sweat the small stuff. We assume tomorrow is guaranteed. It isn’t. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff. Be Grateful.

September 11, 2001 is a day I will never forget. It was horrific. It is etched into our collective memory and into my own like it happened yesterday. I take comfort in knowing that the innocent lives lost that day will never be forgotten. I still have not visited the 9/11 Museum, but it is on my list the next time I’m in New York City.

All we can really do is live. Fully. Gratefully. Without losing ourselves in things that don’t deserve our energy. Life is a gift, and it should never be taken for granted.

When I first moved to Sag Harbor 17 years ago, I had an 8-year-old and a 2-year-old. Kurt was working in New York City, and I was suddenly in a new place, without friends or family, feeling overwhelmed and alone. I was still commuting to Brooklyn for work that first month.

On the morning of 9/11, I had just dropped Dani off at school and was preparing to drive into Brooklyn with Allura. Kurt called me first because he had just learned that his father was diagnosed with cancer. He was devastated. I talked him through it so he could continue his drive into the city.

About an hour later, he called again and said, “Ness, turn on the news. Do not drive into the city today.”

I turned on the TV and felt frozen. Many of my friends worked in the World Trade Center buildings. A deep, overwhelming grief set in. I am grateful that my friends made it home, but so many parents did not return to their children that day.

Kurt once shared a poem with me called “Just for Today” by Sally Meyer, written from a mother to a child. It stayed with me. It put everything into perspective. It reminded me to slow down. To be present. To appreciate the moments we so often rush past.

Although my children are now grown, 25 and 18, I still catch myself getting wrapped up in work and distractions. I have to remind myself to pause and really listen. To turn off the phone. The television. The computer. When we’re together, we sometimes play a simple board game of Sorry. Phones away. Just being together.

I am deeply grateful for my daughters. There is not a single day that I don’t say thank you for the privilege of raising them, loving them, guiding them, and learning alongside them. They are no longer children. They are women. And I still make time every day to talk to them, to show up, and to share in the things they enjoy.

9/11 reminds us of this truth: tomorrow is not promised. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Say the kind words. Hold the hug longer. Be present.

Life is precious. Let’s live like we know that.

photo credit inhabitat.com — 9/11 Memorial photo credit: inhabitat.com

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Is the Passion gone?

March 31, 2010 In EDITORIAL 3 Mins Read

Ever find yourself wondering if your passion for your job or your relationship has quietly faded while you weren’t looking? I’ve been there. After twenty years in sales, I took a real vacation for the first time and realized something had changed. Maybe it’s not burnout… It’s perhaps clarity. Let’s talk about it.

Is the Passion Gone?

I’ve been in sales for over 20 years, and every time I’ve taken a vacation, I’ve still found myself in “work mode.” If you’re in sales, you get it; it’s in your DNA. You live it, breathe it, and it’s hard to switch it off because results, energy, drive you, and that next deal.

But this last vacation felt… different. For the first time, I was completely disconnected from work, with no emails, no calls, and no “quick check-ins.” And that’s when it hit me: maybe my passion for what I do is fading. Perhaps I’ve changed, or maybe the company needs to change to reignite that spark. Can passion be restored? Possibly. But the real question is: whose responsibility is it mine or theirs?

Why Passion Matters

Passion is everything. It’s the fuel behind success in business, in relationships, in life. When it fades, everything slows down. In a company, lost passion can cost thousands in sales. In a relationship, it can cost a connection or, worse, a marriage.

In sales, especially, passion is the secret weapon. Buyers can sense it. When you truly believe in what you’re selling, people feel it, and they buy into not just your product, but you.

A friend of mine, a real estate broker, told me about a colleague who landed an exclusive listing on a home he secretly dislikes. Other agents in his office love the property, but he’s the one with the deal. The homeowners have no idea. How long do you think that house will sit on the market? Exactly. You can’t fake passion not for long.

When a salesperson loves their product, their job stops feeling like “work.” They show up energized, creative, and driven, and that energy translates directly into success. The business grows, revenue climbs, and morale stays high.

So how do companies keep that fire alive?
Simple but not easy:

Provide the right tools to do the job well.
Deliver quality products and stand behind them.
Recognize effort and reward success.
Lead with respect and integrity.
Pay your people what they’re worth.

A great salesperson is like a fine bottle of wine; handle with care, and they’ll only get better with time.

Passion in Relationships

Now, let’s talk about personal passion because the same rules apply (well, minus the paycheck part… although, who knows, that might spice things up too.

Just like in sales, relationships need energy, attention, and appreciation to stay alive. When one partner stops showing up with enthusiasm or curiosity, the connection fades. Passion needs feeding in love, as in work.

Final Thought

Passion isn’t just about liking what you do; it’s about feeling alive while you do it. If you’ve lost that spark, don’t ignore it. Figure out whether it’s burnout, boredom, or a signal that it’s time for something new. Because passion doesn’t just make you better at what you do, it makes life worth doing.

Real Talk, Real People, that’s where the truth lives.