- Week 2 Reflection: Planting Sweetgrass Name: Kyra Williams
1. What is your favorite quote from this section and why is this so memorable to you (100 word minimum).- “It is human perception that makes the world a gift. When we view the world this way, strawberries and humans alike are transformed.” There were a lot of good quotes throughout the pages we read for class, but this one really stuck out to me. Not just thinking about strawberries like it’s talking about but, just our perception of anything is really important. I have been trying to become amore positive person and something that helps with that is changing my perception on how I see the world and being more mindful of the things and people around me. This quote sets as a reminder for me that our outlook and mindset have the power to create better experiences and deepen our connection to the world around us.
2. What does reciprocity look like in your culture? Provide specific examples (150 word minimum) – So, what is reciprocity? Reciprocity is a social principal of the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit. My Mother and Father are perfect examples of this. They are both very unselfish and willing to help anyone no matter the situation. My father is a police Sargent and works long 12-hour night shifts for multiple days and after some shifts if his friends need help building a shelf or renovating their house my dad would be the first person there. So, growing up with that sort of culture has made me into a person who naturally wants to help. I also love quality time, so anytime my friends need help cleaning their car, moving in/out, or even just running best believe errands I will be there. And my friends would do the same for me in a heartbeat.
3. This section begins with the following quote, ““Sweetgrass is best planted not by seed, but by putting roots directly in the ground. Thus the plant is passed from hand to earth to hand across years and generations. Its favored habitat is sunny, well-watered meadows. It thrives on disturbed edges.” What does this mean to you? (150 word minimum).- This quote means to me that some things like sweetgrass thrive and pass on better when they are nurtured and shared in a hands-on, and cared for in a personal way rather than using more impersonal methods, that it goes better. It also reflects the idea that continual growth is most successful when you are being personal and attentive to what you are trying to grow. Just as
sweetgrass thrives when its roots are carefully planted and passed down through generations. This principle can be applied in a lot of different areas ofyour life such as, if you are a teacher trying to better your students, it would be better to be more personal with your students not being impersonal, no matter the age.
4. Specifically in “The Offering”, Kimmerer discusses how we focus our attention. What are ways in which you choose to focus your attention and are you happy with these choices? (100 word minimum)Some ways in which I like to focus my attention is one disconnecting from my phone, whether if I’m doing homework, going for a walk in nature, or at dinner with my boyfriend. One of the most important things is trying to “live in the moment”. Being in this generation where the internet and phones control all of our lives, it’s good to disconnect at some times. It is a work in progress, but I am very happy with