Four years ago, in 2021, Kira’s school project was to write a short poem about Gaia, Mother Earth, as part of her school’s Earth Day celebration. We have a large magnetic whiteboard in our living room - a canvas for all sorts of things: the mundane (“whose turn to wipe the table, unpack the dishwasher, feed and play with our pet rats”), the important (the calendar of dates, activities, and parties to attend), and, of course, the white spaces left open for creativity.
While Kira was drafting her poem on the whiteboard, I noticed that “heart” and “earth” can form a continuous loop and what that discovery could mean for her poem. My excitement wasn’t mirrored by my 8 year old, focused as she was on finding the perfect rhyme (which she did, twenty minutes later). It’s taken me far longer to finally put this reflection to paper and share it here.
Every 22nd of April, we celebrate Earth Day as we remember how wondrous our planet is, and how much it needs our help to continue thriving. I agree with the sentiment that much of what we do is really “borrowing” from our planet. A loan that for centuries has no obvious “interest rate” or imminent “payback” deadline. Along the way, we might see glimpses of impact, positive or negative, but convince ourselves to keep going since there are no creditors at the door.
Hundreds of organisations remind us in various ways to care for our Earth, so we carry reusable bags, make a donation, choose local when we can, plant a tree here and now. Any little act we do is important, yet what if we moved beyond surface gestures? What if we truly used our hearts to care for Mother Earth - not merely as a resource for our needs or our future generations, but out of deep respect and love for the Earth itself?
See this wonderful link right in front of us: the words heart and earth are anagrams, from the same letters, a symbolic loop that invites reflection. Can we reframe our relationship? Love for Earth is love for the present moment, the vibrant network we are a part of. It’s not a distant duty but an immediate connection.
What does that look life in daily life?
First, it’s a shift in mindset – see the Earth not as a backdrop or resource, but as a living presence with its own intrinsic value and spirit that deserves our care.
Each one of us, within our own resources, time, or influence, still can effect meaningful, heart-led ways to care for the Earth and nurture that sense of belonging. Some small steps edited from AI:
- Cherish What You Have: Use items as much as possible before replacing them. Repurpose containers, clothes, or leftover food. Resourcefulness is a form of respect for the planet.
- Share and Repair: Swap, borrow, or lend items within your community. Mend or patch clothing or household goods instead of discarding them. Each act lessens the burden on the planet.
- Choose with Awareness: When possible, opt for goods that are durable, local, or made with fewer environmental impacts—even if only occasionally. Every better choice counts.
- Reduce Waste: Keep a reusable bag or bottle. Try to minimize single-use plastics and packaging whenever you can, even if it’s just avoiding them once a week.
- Care for Local Nature: Tend to a plant on your windowsill. Pick up litter in your street or local park. Water a community tree. These small gestures give back to the earth right where you are.
- Cultivate Appreciation: Spend time outdoors—feel the breeze, touch a plant, or watch a sunrise and sunset. Even moments of quiet gratitude create a heartfelt connection with nature.
- Talk About It: Share what you’re doing with friends or family. Conversations, no matter how simple, gently encourage a ripple effect of awareness and action.
I share this image that I commissioned Kira to draw, to illustrate the anagram and meaning behind the continuous loop. Four years on, Kira has grown into a little entrepreneur, bringing her creativity to small paid projects for others (I should have asked for the drawing back then…the rate today is higher!). It turns out that, much like with our care for Earth, the cost of asking or acting often increases the longer we wait.
I hope you see her picture, feel the connection, and consider: What’s one small thing you could do today to honor heart and earth together?
