So…we’re screwed. And we will follow every other species to oblivion, probably sooner than later. Given that strong likelihood, the pertinent question for me is always this: what should we teach our children? My answer?

The present is all there is; the past is just a memory, and the future, a set of imagined hopes and anxieties, (now mostly the latter.) So teach them to treasure the joyful and inspiring moments in life right now, to laugh, to stay curious, and to take care of each other. Help them to grieve their losses without despairing. Protect them from hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and heat waves, as best we can. And train them in the difficult skills of breathing, observing their own thoughts and feelings, and—when ready, letting go of attachments and abiding in the present moment. And finally, teach them to grow gardens, grow community, and grow awareness, strengthening their character by cultivating their own and others’ health, competence, and resilience.