A Year of Kindness: Be kind to the Earth

“Walk in kindness toward the Earth and every living being. Without kindness and compassion for all of Mother Nature’s creatures, there can be no true joy, no internal peace, no happiness. Happiness flows from caring for all sentient beings as if there were your own family, because in essence they are. We are all connected to each other and to the Earth.” - Sylvia Dolson

As we continue our Year of Kindness at SSM Health and prepare for Earth Day/Arbor celebrations, there couldn’t be a more fitting recipient of our kindness than our planet – our common home. A powerful way to be more thoughtful and share kindness to others is through care for our environment — because the health of our earth directly affects the health of human beings.

Following in the footsteps of our founding Sisters, the Franciscan Sisters of Mary, we have a long-standing commitment to preserving our earth and its resources and nurturing healthy communities at SSM Health. We understand that environmental damage often impacts those who are most vulnerable, including the poor, sick and those at the margins of society. As such, we advocate for clean air and water, and neighborhoods in which it is safe to work, play and exercise — as well as limiting our direct negative environmental impact.

The Three "Rs"

Many of us already familiar with and practice the three “Rs”— we reduce our consumption of resources, re-use items instead of delegating them to the landfill, or recycle items that can be turned back into consumer goods. But we may not always remember the ways we can impact the environment and eventually the health of our neighbors and fellow human beings.

April prompts

Throughout the month of April, we are focusing on sharing kindness with our earth – and each other. Please, join us!