Knowledge is power ....or is it ?

So in an effort to align myself with many of my fellow 6163 inhabitants, and to actually attempt to do what I say I am going to do, I have been attending a 'Living Smart' course which is largely about learning ways to live smart(er) to maximise and minimise my use of resources, to live more sustainably for the environment, the planet, this household, the community - so that my kids have a future that doesn't replicate a Cormac McCarthy novel.
I will say that there are other ways some people might choose to spend their Sunday afternoons, but my leisure is the least of my worries compared to this enormous responsibility ...isn't it ?
 While I have learnt a lot and made some small changes that make me feel particularly sanctimonious (which I fear is part of the sub-culture of this type of thing), I think i would say that mostly it has left me with a lot to think about, so much so that at times it has been overwhelming and nauseating.
Knowledge may be power or empowering, but I don't think this is the case for me with this stuff.
The more I hear about the extent of toxins in the immediate environment in which I place my children every day, and the lack of water we have versus the amount we use, and the degree to which non-replaceable peak oil is going to really stuff things up for a whole lot of people down the track, and how many generations it will take to decompose a single take away coffee cup lid, and the amount of effort, money and attitude shifting it requires from EVERY SINGLE PERSON to make any significant difference, the more I start to understand why climate change sceptics exist.  This stuff is very full on and really hard to contemplate, so if any two-bit English scientist comes along and says 'nonsense' why wouldn't you take comfort in that ? Rather than join the sceptics I have thought about crawling into the very large hole for the, as yet, non-existent compost, but the soil is apparently so nutrient poor the slaters would have me in about a week. I also waiver between rage (at the world, at people who hose concrete, and at those who genuinely think me putting a bucket in my shower is going to change anything) and inertia. 
And so with all this new information I may be smarter about our predicament, but I couldn't honestly say I am living smarter  ... yet

Note to self

I read about a book the other day where people have been asked to write a note to their 16 year old self.
I thought it was an interesting concept and it has had me thinking about what I would say, and while I would probably give my 16 year old self a thesis rather than a note (or some seriously big neon signs)- i thought I might share a few.....

Firstly, don't drink so much and don't think that people (including you) like you more when you are inebriated because they will stop liking that person, as will you.
Treasure your friends and don't take them for granted, because they will mostly be around for a long time to come and they will know you and still love you.
You are going to meet 'the one' earlier than some do and you shouldn't fight this or think you are missing out-you are blessed to share so much with someone who loves you for who you are, and who teaches you to love yourself too.
Be more patient and try and think things through, especially the consequences, and take a longer term view. Try and work out what you really believe in early on and stick with it - make your decisions based on those beliefs as best you can.
Don't walk away from things so easily.
Don't fall asleep on the beach at Tel Aviv with months worth of hard earned cash in your bag because that is really stupid, and don't go to countries in the middle of a war because you think it sounds cool.
Be nicer to your mother because, believe it or not (and I know it will take you a very long time to get your head around this concept and to even want it), you are going to be a mother yourself, and you too will be flawed despite all your efforts and worrying and anxiety and boundless love.
 Finally, be kinder to yourself and accept that there are some things you can't change and they are simply a part of you.