Grateful for the Fruits of the Earth

Day 7: Thirty Days of Gratitude for Our Earth

I find it remarkable the way the earth provides everything we need for our survival. I am grateful for all the diverse assortment of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and grains, herbs and spices. These gifts of the earth nourish our bodies and sustain our lives.

“The earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.”   ― Pope John Paul II

Grateful for the Earth's Breath

Day 6: Thirty Days of Gratitude for the Earth

Have you ever visited Yellowstone National Park or the grounds of an active volcano?

It is so cool to see the mist rising from the earth. I love watching the way it envelopes parts of the landscape and then dissipates. There is a movement, an ebb and flow appearing as if the earth is breathing. I find it mesmerizing to be able to view the volcanic mist as it escapes through steam vents in the ground and billows up in earthbound clouds. So mist-ical. So fascinating.

Grateful for the Beauty of a Flower

Day 5: Thirty Days of Gratitude for the Earth

There is something so beautiful about the delicacy and intricacy of an individual flower. Each one is a marvel of design, each petal a little gem. They delight the eye and add color to our world. We are blessed to be able to adorn our homes and gardens with these exquisite treasures.

"When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it,
it's your world for the moment." by Georgia O'Keefe

"To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity in the palms of your hand and eternity in an hour."
by William Blake

I feel grateful to live in a world enriched by the beauty and colors of a flower. What a delight for our senses!

Grateful for Cloud Formations

Day 4: Thirty Days of Gratitude for Our Earth

As kids, we had fun looking for familiar shapes and images in the clouds. It was a wonderful way to spend a summer afternoon. Clouds have a knack of capturing our imagination and stimulating creativity. What kid hasn't wondered what it would be like to sit on a cloud?

Now, as an adult I love looking at the bold and powerful formations that the atmosphere sculpts for us. When there are clouds present, the sky becomes a spectacle of moving forms. They are marvels of design, filling the space with positive and negative shapes. No two are the same and they continuously change from moment to moment.

Their fleeting shapes can be a lesson in impermanence. Like the clouds, everything in our lives constantly changes. We can choose to accept the flow of life's circumstances in order to experience greater happiness and reduced struggle.

Of course, besides their beauty, clouds are the delivery mechanism for rain and snow. Their presence effects the temperature, protecting us from heat and the rays of the sun.

I am grateful for the feeling of delight when the clouds put on one of their spectacular shows.

Grateful for a Walk on the Beach

Day 3: Thirty Days of Gratitude for Our Earth

I am so very thankful to live near the coast and have the opportunity to walk barefoot in the sand during much of the year. I love walks on and near the shore. There is such a sense of peace in being there.

A walk on the beach is like going on a mini vacation. It feels as if the "to do" list has been left behind, along with any stress, concerns, and busy thoughts. Spending time at the shore must be one of the greatest tools for stress management. It's almost immediately refreshing.

For many of us, a seaside excursion can have a powerful impact on the way we feel; a sense of peace, an inner healing, and/or an experience of greater energy (as if a switch has been turned on). Why do we as humans feel such a strong connection to the ocean? Here are some thoughts I have on the subject:

• First of all, the ocean is so vast and much bigger than anything in our lives. When standing at the shore, it is impossible to truly see it in its entirety. We become a bit smaller in our minds and the ocean becomes awe inspiring.
• It is a multi-sensory experience with the sound of the waves, the smell of the sea air, the 360 degree visuals, the feel of the sand enveloping our feet with every step, and at times you can almost taste the salt in the spray of the mist in the air. This total process of immersion seems to transport you to another dimension, outside of your daily routine.
• As humans we live on land yet when we are born we are 78% water. So, do we feel at home by the shore? Is it like returning to our roots? 
• Or is our presence in the vicinity of the moving ocean a reminder of the movement of amniotic fluid that surrounded us before birth?

What would you add to this list?

Whatever the reasons for being so attracted to the ocean, I feel very thankful to have grown up on the East Coast of the U.S., not far from wide expansive beaches. And now I am thankful to live in California, on the West Coast, very close to a magnificent coastline. I never tire of strolls by the shore, walks on the beach, and any chance to view the crashing waves.

Grateful for Earth's Flowing Waters

Day 2: Thirty Days of Gratitude for Our Earth

The Earth is loaded with streams, creeks, rivers, and waterfalls. The flowing waterways can be found throughout the world.

Who isn't stopped in their tracks at the sight of a waterfall? The steady stream is a marvel and the variations in size, location, and intensity make each one unique. What I have found, with every waterfall I've come across, is that they get more spectacular as you get closer.

I am truly a fan of all bodies of moving water as well. There's something quite exhilarating about sitting by a rippling creek, a flowing river, or a meandering stream.

I am grateful for every encounter I have had with some of Earth's many waterways.

A Month of Gratitude for the Earth

Photo Credit: Melissa Braun

Day 1: Thirty Days of Gratitude for Our Earth

With Earth Day coming up on April 22nd, I decided to spend the entire month of April expressing gratitude for the planet we call home. To me, it makes sense to love and care for the only planet with the atmosphere and oxygen to meet the essential needs of life as we know it.

With the current assault on our home, I had to do my small part to promote an appreciation for the Earth. There appears to be a current willingness and effort to deny the need to caretake our air and our water... the building blocks of life. I see a determination to place big business above the basic needs of humankind.

I don't understand how the protection of our environment could possibly be a partisan issue. Why would we be comfortable with the effort to pour waste into our waterways and put carcinogens into the air? Why would anyone choose to take steps that would or could make our water undrinkable and our air filled with particles that cause suffering, disease, and death?

So, I am here to promote an appreciation for what we have on this planet. I love this amazingly beautiful Earth. I am wowed by the magnificence of nature, each and every day.

Throughout this month, I will be posting daily images of appreciation: "30 Days of Gratitude for Our Earth." The images will appear here, on the Gratitude Habit Facebook page, and on Pinterest.