Dear Isabella, 31 years old.
Do you remember the peaceful rhythm of your mornings in Lyon?
The walk from Confluence to university was more than a commute, it was a thirty minute therapy session. I missed the beach in Eastbourne when I first got here, but I’m starting to think the Rhône has equalled it. No seagulls. She glitters to the right of me each morning. Locals strolling, students chatting, runners rubbing their fitness in my face… I’m going to miss this so much.
I always chose the walk over the tram. It allows me to truly breathe. Quite literally, as Confluence has over 2570 trees, and they’re aiming for 4500 by 2030. Did they do it? Sustainability becomes part of everyday life when you live in Confluence. Clean air, clean streets, birdsongs, shrill shrieks of children running through the green spaces, solar panels. They estimated that their renovations would produce the annual electricity consumption of around 6,500 residents here in Confluence. Their resolute dedication stuck out to me – this wasn’t green-washing politics, it was real action. Commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, number 3 to be exact.
That’s why I chose to live as sustainably as I could this year, starting with Goal 12. I began shopping at the local markets, instead of choosing processed foods in plastic wrapping. Stretching 10 euros was a mission, a true skill. I learnt my power as a consumer; the value of my money, and the value of who I would give it to. My TCL card was irreplaceable (well, apart from the time I left it on the metro and had to replace it). The metro system, ever-evolving towards electric, seemed to put Eastbourne’s buses to shame in both efficiency and sustainability.
While running the length of the Rhône was never going to be my thing, how could I have anticipated the love I would develop for hiking during this year? Pine trees, mountains, hayfever medication, cliff edges covered in snow, wishing I had the right pair of shoes… new hiking boots. Now that was money well spent. From Grenoble to Chamonix to Mont Thou, it was those journeys that taught me the importance of forest protection and restoration, Goal 15. Despite the no-littering signs, I found myself tucking people’s rubbish into my own pockets, wishing they would care more. On the Flixbus back from my day trips, I considered how lucky I was to experience such beauty in nature.
I hope this letter reminds you that sustainable change isn’t made in performative policy. It is made in how you choose to live each ordinary day, how you feel about the world around you, how you feel about your own body. Lyon met me halfway on my journey to live a more sustainable life – I hope the life you’ve made for yourself now mirrors and exceeds the life I started here.
Isabella, 21 years old.
Sat by the Rhône for the last time before I leave.
