Sent 22 March 2018. Part of Little Blue Letter.

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
~ John Wooden

Note: The newsletter is a little different this week, but please bear with me!

Keeping your head above water
A light bulb hanging in a fire station in Livermore, California, has been dimly glowing almost continuously since 1901. Yet today’s standard light bulbs last half as long as they did a century ago. Early bulb manufacturers quickly realised that durable bulbs don’t need to be replaced as often, which meant less profit. So they formed a cartel and limited the longevity of bulbs to ensure that sales continued to grow steadily.

The oldest light bulb in the world. Good for the planet, bad for profits.


It’s a quirky story, but my fascination turned sour as I reflected on how the profit motive and planned obsolescence is the driver behind much environmental destruction. We don’t just replace light bulbs any more, most of us change our smart phone every couple of years too.

I began to feel hopeless. One person seems so small in the shadow of the overwhelming challenges facing humanity. Indeed, there is increasing recognition that climate change and other environmental concerns can easily lead to depression to anxiety. The American Psychiatry Association has put out a policy statement and people are forming support groups to help stay positive. 

So how do we stay positive? Three simple ideas:

  • Ignore the bad news. Our digital world bombards us with a lifetime's worth of sadness every day. It doesn't do us any good.
  • Get a daily dose of #OceanOptimism. Remember that there is still cause for hope.
  • Look after yourself. Go for a walk, eat something nutritious, take a break, seek help when you need it.

Ten more ideas here, and here is a cute twitter account that posts hourly self-care reminders.

Don’t let the light go out.💡

On a positive note

Loch Carron is home to millions of flame shells.
Gif of the week
Just keep swimming...
Written this week by Glen Wright. Glen is a researcher studying marine governance, the high seas, and ocean energy. He is a drinker of tea, lover of the sea, and an Oxford comma user. Glen recently published Academia Obscura: The Hidden Silly Side of Higher Education.