Gratitude

There is a Greek proverb that says “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”

The weekend before Thanksgiving my family was able to gather on our family’s land to celebrate early. It was just my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and my adorable 21-month old nephew. COVID has been a real concern with our family, as my dad is in a high-risk group, so we have kept our “bubble” very small. This gathering was carefully planned with quarantining and other precautions to reduce potential contact with the virus.

Our way of celebrating was nothing fancy. We spent the day together walking the dogs, flying kites (a first for my nephew), cooking, and simply enjoying each other’s company – something that we no longer take for granted. And, as usual, when my sister’s family and I are home, my dad had a project for us. This time he had a new tree that he wanted planted. I should note that my family’s land is in the Limestone Cut Plains of the Cross Timbers Region, so in addition to digging (and more digging!), this meant we would have to break up a lot of rock to make a hole big enough for the root ball. It was a lot of back-breaking work, but it was a beautiful day to be outside, and we did it together.

The tree is planted, and now I’m back in my office working on the annual reports for TLC’s protected properties that I have visited this year, reflecting on an overwhelming sense of gratitude that I am feeling. I am grateful for time spent with family. I’m grateful for a place that I can be outside and enjoy nature. And I’m even grateful for the little aches I feel after planting that tree – a tree that will grow over the years to provide shade and relief in the hot Texas summer, that will provide food and shelter for wildlife, and that will hopefully live on past all of us and continue to be a part of the rural landscape.

Like that tree that we planted, TLC’s protected properties will carry on past the lifetimes of the landowners who originally made the commitment to put a conservation easement on their land. It is a legacy that will benefit each new generation that enjoys fresh air and clean water, the experience of seeing wildlife and native plants, and scenic open spaces.

As I review the protected properties that I have visited this year, as well as those visited by my colleagues Ellen and Stephen, I am grateful for our landowners and their families who make our work possible by protecting their land. I am grateful for the volunteers and community partners who give their time and energy to keep our public preserves open and accessible. And I am grateful for those individuals and businesses who have supported our efforts with financial gifts. We don’t say it enough – I don’t say it enough – but thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

You are the reason TLC has grown from a small group of dedicated volunteers in 1982 working to protect 101 acres of longleaf pine forest to a nationally accredited nonprofit organization with six full-time staff members. You are the reason we have conserved over 112,000 acres of land in Texas to date. Maybe you have never set foot on one of our preserves, and maybe you never will (but I hope after COVID you are able to!); nevertheless, you are the reason these special places will be protected forever!

Thank YOU for protecting the nature of Texas!

…Before we left to go home at the end of the weekend, my dad commented that he’d like to plant half a dozen pecan trees soon. He hoped that in 10-15 years they would produce pecans that my nephew would be able to enjoy. I smiled at the beautiful picture that painted in my mind, then I thought…oh no, more digging!