“You must be the change you want to see in the world,” said “Mahatma” Gandhi, who led India to independence and inspired human rights movements worldwide—all by dramatically living the simple, nonviolent life he preached. We now see this quote everywhere: at churches and yoga centers and political rallies and on workshop flyers and bumper stickers. But what does it mean? Gandhi stood (or sat) against armed adversaries. He endured years in prisons. Without violence, he fought off an empire and brought a new level of dignity to the caste of “untouchables.” What Gandhi didn’t spell out for us is this: How might we too “be the change”?  We are a part of the freest, most powerful, and most consuming nation on Earth. Our most difficult battles are with ourselves. Meanwhile, Mother Earth is crying out for each of us to be the change, to become the best possible person. Not someday, but right now. Another 20 years of “Be the same” and climate change will likely be catastrophically irreversible. We feel that truth in the heat, the smoke, the wind, the floods, and in the eyes of our children and g …