Save Yourself, Make a Deal:
The Earth Holds No Grudges
Joe Moncarz September 2022
It's come down to this: either you do something you really don't want to do, or you pay the price. Either you give up your addiction to power and control, and your addiction to fossil fuels, or you will face a lot of hardship. The consequences will be ugly, drawn-out, painful, and everyone around you will suffer, too. You could lose everything.
I understand that you don't want to change. You're stubborn and you keep denying your role in causing this mess. You may even think you have the upper hand. You think you can win. And everywhere you look, it seems that way – on the surface. With your high-tech gadgets, your screens, your spaceships, your banks full of money, you confuse these artifacts of emptiness for god-like strength. But the Earth will set things right – if you don't.
If only you could see how much you have to gain and how much better your life will be. All you have to do is give up your desires for domination and control. That's it! Stop trying to dominate the Earth and everything will be fine. It's really as simple as that. That's the deal.
The great thing is that the Earth doesn't hold grudges. When you stop trying to dominate, control, and destroy, the Earth can get back to healing itself and supporting life. The Earth doesn't seek revenge – that's a human thing. No, the Earth would rather focus on the positive: more trees, more fish, more birds, more flowers, more animals. That's what the Earth is about. All you have to do is get out of the way and allow the Earth to do its work.
Despite all the harm you've caused to the Earth, the Earth does not seek revenge. Revenge is not only a waste of energy, but it's self-destructive. There's a quote attributed to Confucius: “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” In other words, revenge is suicidal. Revenge is negative, self-defeating, and accomplishes nothing beneficial. That's not the Earth's way.
The Earth is very forgiving and very patient, too. The Earth forgives you for all the harm you caused, and is patiently waiting for you to come to your senses. But even the Earth's forgiving nature and patience has its limits. Now we're just about at those limits. To carry on along your current path is not only self-sabotaging, but suicidal.
So choose the positive and healthy path. Yes, make a deal with the Earth. It's simple: just leave the Earth alone. Stop trying to dominate and destroy. Stop the burning of fossil fuels. Get out of the way and allow the Earth to do its work. That's the deal. It shouldn't be too hard, since genetically it's inside you. We all used to live like that, for 99 percent of our time on Earth.
It's a pretty good deal. It's also the only way to win, since all other paths will lead to ruin. Just stop trying to dominate and control.
Make a deal. The Earth holds no grudges.
Sources and Further Reading
Bekoff, Marc. (2009 July 8). “Animals Can Be Ambassadors For Forgiveness, Generosity, Peace, Trust, and Hope.” Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animal-emotions/200907/animals-can-be-ambassadors-forgiveness-generosity-peace-trust-and-hope
Bekoff, Marc. (2014). Rewilding Our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence. New World Library.
Chinmoy, Sri. (2021). Listen to Nature: Living in Harmony with the Earth. The Golden Shore.
Gilbert, Paul. (2019). The Compassionate Mind. Robinson.
Goodall, Jane, and Bekoff, Marc. (2002). The Ten Trusts: What We Must Do to Care for The Animals We Love. HarperOne.
Gruhn, Daniel, et al. (2009). “Empathy Across the Adult Lifespan: Longitudinal and Experience-Sampling Findings.” Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/23684266_Empathy_Across_the_Adult_Lifespan_Longitudinal_and_Experience-Sampling_Findings
Hernandez, Jessica. (2022). Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science. North Atlantic Books.
Lake-Thom, Bobby. (1997). Spirits of the Earth: A Guide to Native American Nature Symbols, Stories, and Ceremonies. Plume.
Luskin, F. (2003). Forgive for Good. HarperOne.
Nerburn, Kent. (1999). The Wisdom of the Native Americans. New World Library.
Price, Michael. (2009 June). “Revenge and the people who seek it.” Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/06/revenge
Rinpoche, Dzigar Kongtrul. (2020). Peaceful Heart: The Buddhist Practice of Patience. Shambhala.
Sahu, et al. (2014 January). “Depression is More Than Just Sadness: A Case of Excessive Anger and Its Management in Depression.” Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.4103/0253-7176.127259
Shapiro, S. L. (2020). Rewire your mind: Discover the science + practice of mindfulness. Aster.
Siedlecka E, Capper MM, Denson TF (2015). “Negative Emotional Events that People Ruminate about Feel Closer in Time.” Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0117105
Tolle, Eckhardt. (1999). The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. New World Library.
Topa, Wahinkpe, and Narvaez, Darcia, eds. (2022). Restoring the Kinship Worldview: Indigenous Voices Introduce 28 Precepts for Rebalancing Life on Planet Earth. North Atlantic Books.
Van Oyen Witvliet, C., Ludwig, T. E., & Laan, K. L. (2001). “Granting forgiveness or harboring grudges: Implications for emotion, physiology, and health.” Psychological Science, 12(2), 117–123. Retrieved from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/VanOyenWitvliet-GrantingForgiveness.pdf
Von Kreisler, Kristin. (1999). The Compassion of Animals: True Stories of Animal Courage and Kindness. Three Rivers Press.
I understand that you don't want to change. You're stubborn and you keep denying your role in causing this mess. You may even think you have the upper hand. You think you can win. And everywhere you look, it seems that way – on the surface. With your high-tech gadgets, your screens, your spaceships, your banks full of money, you confuse these artifacts of emptiness for god-like strength. But the Earth will set things right – if you don't.
If only you could see how much you have to gain and how much better your life will be. All you have to do is give up your desires for domination and control. That's it! Stop trying to dominate the Earth and everything will be fine. It's really as simple as that. That's the deal.
The great thing is that the Earth doesn't hold grudges. When you stop trying to dominate, control, and destroy, the Earth can get back to healing itself and supporting life. The Earth doesn't seek revenge – that's a human thing. No, the Earth would rather focus on the positive: more trees, more fish, more birds, more flowers, more animals. That's what the Earth is about. All you have to do is get out of the way and allow the Earth to do its work.
Despite all the harm you've caused to the Earth, the Earth does not seek revenge. Revenge is not only a waste of energy, but it's self-destructive. There's a quote attributed to Confucius: “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” In other words, revenge is suicidal. Revenge is negative, self-defeating, and accomplishes nothing beneficial. That's not the Earth's way.
The Earth is very forgiving and very patient, too. The Earth forgives you for all the harm you caused, and is patiently waiting for you to come to your senses. But even the Earth's forgiving nature and patience has its limits. Now we're just about at those limits. To carry on along your current path is not only self-sabotaging, but suicidal.
So choose the positive and healthy path. Yes, make a deal with the Earth. It's simple: just leave the Earth alone. Stop trying to dominate and destroy. Stop the burning of fossil fuels. Get out of the way and allow the Earth to do its work. That's the deal. It shouldn't be too hard, since genetically it's inside you. We all used to live like that, for 99 percent of our time on Earth.
It's a pretty good deal. It's also the only way to win, since all other paths will lead to ruin. Just stop trying to dominate and control.
Make a deal. The Earth holds no grudges.
Sources and Further Reading
Bekoff, Marc. (2009 July 8). “Animals Can Be Ambassadors For Forgiveness, Generosity, Peace, Trust, and Hope.” Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animal-emotions/200907/animals-can-be-ambassadors-forgiveness-generosity-peace-trust-and-hope
Bekoff, Marc. (2014). Rewilding Our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence. New World Library.
Chinmoy, Sri. (2021). Listen to Nature: Living in Harmony with the Earth. The Golden Shore.
Gilbert, Paul. (2019). The Compassionate Mind. Robinson.
Goodall, Jane, and Bekoff, Marc. (2002). The Ten Trusts: What We Must Do to Care for The Animals We Love. HarperOne.
Gruhn, Daniel, et al. (2009). “Empathy Across the Adult Lifespan: Longitudinal and Experience-Sampling Findings.” Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/23684266_Empathy_Across_the_Adult_Lifespan_Longitudinal_and_Experience-Sampling_Findings
Hernandez, Jessica. (2022). Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science. North Atlantic Books.
Lake-Thom, Bobby. (1997). Spirits of the Earth: A Guide to Native American Nature Symbols, Stories, and Ceremonies. Plume.
Luskin, F. (2003). Forgive for Good. HarperOne.
Nerburn, Kent. (1999). The Wisdom of the Native Americans. New World Library.
Price, Michael. (2009 June). “Revenge and the people who seek it.” Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/06/revenge
Rinpoche, Dzigar Kongtrul. (2020). Peaceful Heart: The Buddhist Practice of Patience. Shambhala.
Sahu, et al. (2014 January). “Depression is More Than Just Sadness: A Case of Excessive Anger and Its Management in Depression.” Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.4103/0253-7176.127259
Shapiro, S. L. (2020). Rewire your mind: Discover the science + practice of mindfulness. Aster.
Siedlecka E, Capper MM, Denson TF (2015). “Negative Emotional Events that People Ruminate about Feel Closer in Time.” Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0117105
Tolle, Eckhardt. (1999). The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. New World Library.
Topa, Wahinkpe, and Narvaez, Darcia, eds. (2022). Restoring the Kinship Worldview: Indigenous Voices Introduce 28 Precepts for Rebalancing Life on Planet Earth. North Atlantic Books.
Van Oyen Witvliet, C., Ludwig, T. E., & Laan, K. L. (2001). “Granting forgiveness or harboring grudges: Implications for emotion, physiology, and health.” Psychological Science, 12(2), 117–123. Retrieved from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/VanOyenWitvliet-GrantingForgiveness.pdf
Von Kreisler, Kristin. (1999). The Compassion of Animals: True Stories of Animal Courage and Kindness. Three Rivers Press.