Have you seen the documentary film David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet on Netflix yet?

I have, and it was hard to watch.

The gravity of the situation, let alone the scenes showing unforgivable damage to Earth’s biodiversity and the continuing alarming rates of extinction and the consequences that will follow, would easily change the way you look at the world forever and make you think about how you should respond to the longstanding problem, or how you can possibly bear its burden. Because surely, the only thing that has been here for all of us since the universe began to expand is life here on earth, and I mean life in all forms.

After watching the film, I couldn’t help but ask why isn’t this trending at all? Why do we rather spend hours, even days, talking about things that really don’t matter in the whole scheme of things? Why are we being insubstantial about the videos we watch on social media and making a pass on those that are truly worth consuming? I hope you don’t take this as questioning the choices or actions of other people, because it doesn’t lead to that. What breaks my heart is, why does it seem more difficult to get involved in conversations like this?

Truth be told, I have very strong opinions on things that I’m passionate about — things are either black or white, there’s no in-between — and times like this get me so inspired to write to all those who are receptive. Although sometimes my friends would tell me to stop being overdramatic over real-world issues that are totally out of my control, but I feel like it makes me an irresponsible person just to refrain from the alarming things that are going on around us. Not to mention this issue is more than just about saving the planet, but it’s already, and actually, about saving ourselves.

I don’t know about you, but I think we all need to be constantly reminded that we need to look over our shoulders, because the clock is ticking and it’s only a matter of time. Everything around us is linked to each other, and we are the only ones who have the power to destroy or nurture it. Regardless of age, color, religion, sex, profession, or interest, every single being on this planet has a pivotal role to play in ensuring that our mother earth lasts a thousand years longer and that your future children’s kids have the same chance to enjoy those that you have enjoyed for many years. It’s one thing to have your own beliefs about certain things, but another to ignore the facts and the science behind this catastrophic decline caused by today’s human activity. This is just irresponsible, and it will lead to the extinction of human beings long before we know it. Yes, extinction is not unusual and certainly not unnatural, but it is still preventable.

I may not set the right example when it comes to making sustainable choices, nor may I have the necessary resources or a better solution, but I believe that making an effort, even the smallest, to educate myself, to expose myself to certain information, to become aware of things that need MOST attention, and to share that wisdom and knowledge with everyone I know or am connected with can make me a contributing member of society.

So, here I am writing because I can’t let this thing throw off my whole emotional state for days, and I believe that THIS is making a difference.

I reckon it’s not that much but there is nothing to lose and everything to gain. Often I keep this part of me very private. But it feels like a single post like this plays a big part in making the world a better place, at least on the social level, and that gives me some HOPE — hope that someone who might come across this will be impacted on some level and will have a second to think about their daily actions.

So, yes, maybe I care “too much,” but I’ve learned that there are worse things than the pain that comes with not caring at all. And this moves us to make great things, reminds us why we are alive.

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Here’s David Attenborough explaining how you can play an important role in building a better future.