On abundance, gratitude, reciprocity and restoration - notes from Braiding Sweetgrass
It took four months, but I'm finally done reading Braiding Sweetgrass.
“And yet, while creating an alternative to destructive economic structures is imperative, it is not enough. It is not just changes in policies that we need, but also changes to the heart. Scarcity and plenty are as much qualities of the heart and mind and spirit as they are of the economy. Gratitude plants the seed for abundance.” (126)
I didn’t grow up with a strong relationship to land, but any time I am in the company of someone more familiar, my connection to nature becomes a little bit stronger. This year, for my husband’s birthday we did a tour with Talaysay Tours in Stanley Park, where a guide taught us about the history of the area and its trees and plants, our tour culminating with delicious cups of tea at Beaver Lake and ample time for questions.
At the same time we were doing the tour, I was in the midst of reading an incredible book called “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer. I first heard of this book in 2019, when we went on a nature walk through the Renfrew Park ravine and the book surpassed my already very high expectations. Filled with wonderful stories that bring the lessons of reciprocity, trusting in abundance, gratitude, using one’s gifts for good, and mutual flourishing (among so many more) it is a rich read. I read it over four months - starting in September 2022 and finishing in January 2023.
Speaking of gratitude, thank you all who have subscribed and who have upgraded to a paid subscription. Your subscriptions help enable this space about doing equity from a place of wellness and excellence and hopefully in the coming months, to work on a longer essay collection. The best way to support is to subscribe and share this newsletter with friends.
In today’s newsletter, I share my eleven take-aways from the read. Upgrade your subscription to get the full set of notes!