In celebration of Earth Day, let us take the opportunity amidst our daily activities to ponder upon the impact of our actions and deepen our appreciation for the gifts of nature.

Here are just some of the ways you can do to heighten your awareness about your environment in your life:

• Breathing…
  Fill your lungs completely with air and appreciate the fact that the same air you breathe once gave life to awakened beings such as Jesus, Buddha and Lao Tzu. Like a fish swimming in the water and has forgotten about the existence of water, we too have forgotten about the very air that we breathe 22,000 times a day. Think what will it be like if one day there is little or no oxygen left in the air? We will all be gasping for air like a fish out of water. Now, slowly breathe in with full confidence and gratitude that our planet is sustaining and supporting you and I unconditionally.

• Eating…
  As you take your meal today, pause and think about the origin of your food and mentally trace its source to the roots of the earth. Realize that a lot of energy from the environment in the form of sunlight, water, air and soil are required to produce the food on your plate. There is also a huge number of people as well as living creatures involved in the entire food production and processing system. Eat with full awareness that foods are not grown in restaurants and supermarkets, and learn to appreciate the gifts of nature with every bite.

• Drinking…
  Before gulping down your coffee or tea like you would each morning, pause and examine your motivation. By being mindful of the desire to satisfy your thirst (or hunger), you will come to realize the compulsive nature in us to consume the universe so as to satisfy our needs and cravings. It is this insatiable appetite that has led to the distinction of many species and ruthless exploitation of lands and seas. Learning to recognize your primal desires will not only help you to see the tremendous damage we have collectively exerted on the environment, but will also help you to appreciate the planet that we have often taken for granted.

• Listening…
  When you walk home after a day’s work, instead of replaying the last discussion you just had with your boss, turn down the volume of your inner dialogue and stop to listen to your surrounding. Notice the deafening noise made by the evening traffic, the loud chatter of passers-by and the brain-splitting drilling from the nearby construction site. Now think how it would feel like if you are a bird or any small creature living in such an environment. Your callings and distress signals to fellow mates would be completely drown out by the background noise, and the amount of stress you need to tolerate for living in such a place. As humans we desire peace of mind. What makes you think other living creatures do not feel the same?

With a renewed awareness of our environment, I encourage you to send a wave of appreciation and gratitude to this planet and all its occupants (including yourself!). A heartfelt thank-you for the blessings (and trials that force us to grow) will be a good start. Commit yourself to conscious, peace-fostering and Earth-friendly ways of life today. Don’t underestimate the little things you can do; even something as simple as reusing used paper can have a cumulative positive effect over a long term.

So have you thanked the Earth today?

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