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I painted this scenic view from a photograph provided to me from a friend who backpacked in the Pisgah National Forest this past summer.  It feels like I'm looking through a window into the soul of the Earth with its expanse of blue and green, and this evokes a deep sense of gratitude.

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, I spent my childhood in the woods.  My play was sketching the trees and taking notes about tree bark, the leaves, and the surrounding forest through the changing seasons.  I also wrote poetry to the trees because they were my friends, and I would leave the poems in the forest in gratitude.  Even as a child I had a sense of their importance.  Here I am today passionately studying the latest science on trees and climate change and trying to understand the best way for humanity to give back and serve as a positive force to protect the future health of the planet for our children and grandchildren.

A first step is realizing we are not separate from nature but a part of nature, and in gratitude we can preserve and give back in equal measure for what we take - "reciprocity".

The Blue Jay is well known for practicing reciprocity.  Once enough food has been secured, the jay instinctively continues to bury as many acorns as it has taken to ensure the oak trees will multiply efficiently and continue for their future needs.