Robin Wall Kimmerer, a renowned Potawatomi botanist, professor, and author of Braiding Sweetgrass and The Serviceberry, beautifully intertwines Indigenous wisdom with scientific knowledge. Through her work, she invites us to reconsider our relationship with the living world. Rather than viewing the Earth’s resources as objects or commodities, she encourages us to recognize nature as our teacher.

When speaking with her students, Kimmerer approaches this idea through the lens of love, posing a powerful question; “What would it be like if we understood that the land loves us back?” She explains that the energy in the room shifts instantaneously. When we love someone or something, we care for it, nurture it, and sustain it, and that love is often reciprocated and becomes relational. In many ways, the land already does this for us by providing air, sunlight, water, and food.

Understanding that the land loves us back can transform how we behave. We become less inclined to exploit or harm it and begin to see the living world as a genuine source of guidance. This shift requires us to be attentive, open, and fully present, listening not just with our ears, but through our heart and how we live. It is, as Kimmerer emphasizes, a monumental reframe.

As a gifted storyteller, Kimmerer shares a meaningful conversation she had with a student of environmental studies on commencement day. Reflecting on the first Earth Day, she said apologetically, “I’m sorry we haven’t solved these problems. I hoped we would be farther along by now.” Her student responded with an unexpected yet powerful perspective; “This is the best possible time to be alive because we are on the edge of a climate catastrophe.”

The student then referenced a Looney Tunes cartoon, in which Wile E. Coyote chases the Road Runner. In these scenes, they often wind up on the precipice of a cliff. “This is where we are,” she explained. “When everything is in the balance, it matters where I stand. I have the gift of living in a time of purpose, and every choice I make matters.”

Wow, her perspective is both sobering and inspiring. It reframes a moment of crisis as an opportunity for purpose and action. The commitment of this young student and her generation offer a sense of hope and responsibility.

Kimmerer reminds us that the actions we take on behalf of the planet, justice, and one another truly matters. These are extraordinary times to be of service. Her message is both grounding and empowering, plant your feet.

Reflection shared by Liz Sorensen Wessel
Watercolor by ~liz

Note: If you would like to learn more about the work and philosophy of Robin Wall Kimmerer, in addition to her books, she has several YouTube videos available that are wonderful.