Your Daily Brush: Reflections On Trees and Dr. Wangari Mathaai
Pause when you can and think about trees from time to time. Appreciate their importance in the ecosystem and in your life. And let us give thanks to those who plant trees that benefit everyone.
Dear Friends,
One cannot say enough good things about trees.
I invite you to pause and reflect on trees - in your life and in the world.
Trees are essential to our survival on this planet. In addition to being a source of life-sustaining oxygen, they are a source of beauty, nourishment, and shelter, and prevent desertification, soil erosion and slow down climate change.
In short, trees are magical! And the range of trees in the world is nothing short of astonishing.
So why not give yourself a break from the fast pace of life and take a few minutes to reflect on the role of trees in your life?
Additionally, I invite you to pause and reflect on the multitude of people in the world who plant and maintain trees. They are doing work that is often unrecognized and taken for granted.
One of the most well-known people associated with tree planting is the late Dr. Wangari Maathai. She won a Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the Greenbelt Movement in Kenya which sought to protect the land through tree-planting and generated jobs for many women.
If you like books, I recommend her memoir Unbowed. There are also children’s books about her if you are inspired to share her work with young people in your life.
Rx: I invite you to explore this multi-part Prescription for Hope. Choose whatever speaks to you and come back to this list from time to time to feed and nourish your psyche and soul and sustain your mental hygiene.
If you are experiencing hardships at the moment, I urge you to read Dr. Maathai’s memoir. You will learn about her imprisonment and struggles and come away admiring her for her fortitude in the face of difficulties. You will also come away feeling grateful for her work and might even be inspired by her commitment to bettering the world.
If you are curious about life in Kenya and a chapter in the country’s history and want to know something more than the usual safaris, etc, this book is also for you.
If you are feeling pessimistic, I urge you to see what kind of good is possible in the world. The world is not all doom and gloom, despite what one hears on the news.
If you are looking for a book to gift your child or grandchild, I urge you to get books about her for young readers.
Sit next to a tree and reflect on how magical and life giving they are. Turn off your electronic device and immerse yourself in a few minutes of wonder and awe.
Reflect on the many people you will never meet, but who collectively work to preserve forests, plant trees and care for them. Express gratitude for how we live in a world that is held together by a multitude of invisible forces of good, and which are examples of love in action.
Add your own variation on the above and share with us in the comments, so we can all learn from each other.
To your health!
