The Priority of Plants

Hey! This week I share with you something from one of my favorite books of all time, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer:

”In the indigenous view, humans are viewed as somewhat lesser beings in the democracy of species.

Plants were here first and have had a long time to figure things out. They live both above and below ground and hold the earth in place. Plants know how to make food from light and water. Not only do they feed themselves, but they make enough to sustain the lives of all the rest of us. Plants are providers for the rest of the community and exemplify the virtue of generosity always offering food.

What if Western scientists saw plants as their teachers rather than their subjects? What if they told stories with that lens?”

We live in a time where the vast majority of people prioritize getting and having and consuming and achieving and money money money. Plants have had a long time to figure out what it actually takes to sustain life here. What if our priorities looked like that of plants? Adaptability, rootedness, creation, generosity, being a part of something larger than ourselves. What if these were the values we prized above all else to create and sustain a fulfilling life?