How protecting the environment keeps us well!

"A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land."

President, Franklin D. Roosevelt

Highlighting National Health Observances is a public health tactic I embraced over three decades ago. I like it because each month provides an excellent opportunity to enable individuals to take control of their health through education.  

 April 22 was National Earth Day, dedicated to demonstrating support for environmental protection and raising awareness of ecological issues. Unfortunately, Earth Day doesn’t receive the attention it deserves for several reasons. First, ecological issues compete with numerous other social, political, and economic concerns for public attention in the media.

Secondly, environmental concerns like climate change take decades to unfold, making them less immediate and dramatic than other news events.

A third reason, the one that caught my attention, is that many of us don’t fully understand the significance of Earth Day and the urgency of protecting the environment. We often forget that the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil that nurtures our food are not just natural resources, but the foundations of our existence.

We tend to overlook the connection between our health and environmental health, so I was excited to see the issue addressed in my favorite spiritual guide throughout the month of April. The theme, "Fertilizing Our Future," covered various topics ranging from the Earth’s intricate connections through biodiversity to embracing Gratitude for its abundance.

I was amazed by the extensive global efforts tackling ecosystem challenges. Each day was an eye-opening reminder that protecting our natural resources is not merely a choice but a must for the survival and well-being of current and future generations.

My son and I often discuss lessons from our monthly guides; April was one of those months. After diving into the first few topics, we couldn't help but laugh about how guilty we felt. He mentioned how he wastes water by sometimes turning on the shower and walking away, leaving the water running for several minutes before returning. I confessed my obsession with overusing plastic bags in the trash. We both vowed to do better.

The topic for April 4, "Restoring Balance," brought back memories of the 2020 pandemic and how the world stood still as COVID-19 globally claimed the breath of an estimated 7 million people. Yet, five years later, it feels as though we've forgotten the lesson the pandemic showed up to teach us: to do a better job of protecting the air we breathe.

Each day’s message was a nudge to do something. So for starters, I used the author’s closing statements to create positive affirmations in my journal –a small change that seemed better than doing nothing at all.

Midway through the month’s readings, I had an epiphany. I recalled the insightful words from the late Pierre Pradervan’s book, The Gentle Art of Blessings: “To bless all without distinction is the ultimate form of giving, because those you bless will never know from whence came the sudden ray that burst through the clouds of their skies, and you will rarely be a witness to the sunlight in their lives.”

Blessings and Gratitude are two sides of the same coin; they constantly influence and enhance each other in powerful ways. For this reason, in an expression of Gratitude to Pierre, each day I blessed the persons and organizations dedicated to safeguarding the Earth - my second small change.

I also blessed the author of the daily guides and thanked them, via email, for the effort poured into research and information sharing. The more Gratitude I expressed, the less guilty I felt.

And then something amazing happened on April 29. The topic of discussion was “The Importance of Forest Restoration,” and while reading the message, I suddenly had a "Wait a Minute" moment. I remembered that over the past few years, I had blessed forests by planting trees in memory of deceased family members and friends. I had rooted their memories in ecosystems around the country, a lasting commitment to caring for the environment.  

We all have a duty to honor the Earth's abundance and live harmoniously with her gifts. Planting trees is one small change anyone can make; a change that yields long-term benefits. When a loved one transitions and you’re not sure what to do to honor their presence in your life, plant a tree.

In addition to planting trees, which you can do through your local funeral home, here are a few other meaningful ways to bless Mother Earth:

1.      Practice Sustainable Living: Use energy-efficient appliances, reduce water consumption, and promote recycling and composting.

2.      Spend time in nature and practice mindfulness to foster a deeper respect and understanding of the ecosystems and biodiversity around us.

3.      Limit Plastic Use: Reduce reliance on single-use plastics by opting for reusable bags, bottles, and containers. This one is a work in progress for me; I’m beginning by learning more about my local recycling process.

4.      Join or support organizations dedicated to conservation and environmental advocacy.

5.      Participate in Earth Day activities or other environmental events that raise awareness about the importance of caring for our planet.

The Earth is one thing we all have in common. Believing that someone else will save it is a threat to its existence. It’s up to each of us to do our part!

Make a small change to protect Mother Earth; Be Well!

For more tips on how to Be Well, subscribe to my blog at https://www.myrtlerussell.com/contact.