Taking time to regularly express gratitude is good for our health. The expressions of gratitude can be small or big things that we notice in our lives for which we want to give thanks. There is not a right or wrong way to express gratitude, so why not start today, by expressing some gratitude for nature and the earth!

How to get started:

  1. Identify a method for capturing your expression of gratitude (could be paper scraps, audio recording, a friend/family member’s ear, a dance, etc.- the possibilities truly are endless!).
  2. Take a moment to close your eyes, pause, and think about nature and the earth.
  3. Breathe slowly and allow yourself to focus on what you appreciate right now about nature or the earth.
  4. If you are having a hard time thinking of anything, that is okay! You could try again later, or you could picture a favorite place (like the Minnesota Zoo!), picture, movie, sound, etc. that reminds you of the earth or nature. Also, it may be helpful to know that things that cause us more challenging emotions (such as fear) may be things that we are grateful for (e.g. ability to overcome fear of snakes, etc).
  5. Once you have something in mind, share it via the method you identified in step 1!
  6. Feel free to capture one or more item of gratitude each day. This should not feel like a chore, so if you cannot think of anything, that is okay, try again another day! Also, sharing what you are grateful for with friends or family could help you think of other things you may have forgotten!

Taking a few moments every day to express gratitude to nature and the earth can positively impact your wellbeing. Sharing your gratitude with a friend or family member is another way to connect with each other and be able to express mutual appreciation for the earth, which is good for you and good for the planet!

The Minnesota Zoo would love to see examples of how you used this activity at home! Please share pictures or comments via email at [email protected], and take less than 5 minutes of time to provide us feedback by completing this short survey.