“Only through gratitude can we overcome the imperfections of the world.”
When we strive for perfection – or the illusion of such a state – we tend to demand more and more of ourselves. Only by setting the bar high enough and constantly improving ourselves can we make progress that raises the quality of our efforts to the highest level. We have all heard this idea before, haven’t we? But what if we get it wrong? What if, through our pursuit of an ever-better version of ourselves, we tend to overlook the richness of the present moment, and we involuntarily engage in a rat race? Why does this matter as we create new educational programs on Responsible Conduct in Research?
We live in challenging times; in the midst of a global pandemic, we are confronted with new, even more damaging reports of climate change, global temperatures are rising faster than we predicted. We are running out of time to take policy action that could have a significant impact on the modern production of goods and thus reduce our carbon footprint. So should we throw up our hands and capitulate? That is not an option for any reasonable person. Before we try to change the policies of our nation states, we should pay attention to our local consumption. Gratitude can change our lives, both on a personal and societal level.
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