You are a leaf on a tree that has been growing for billions of years.

Blown away by this video of Astrid Lundberg. This is something we should all realise; we are all one fruit that keeps on growing, directly connected to the mother fruit. Such a profound understanding, and one to remember when we fall into the dangerous habit of focusing on our differences. We are not different at all.

Here’s a transcript of the clip:

When was your mother born? OK, now go to, like, a week before that–that is how long you have existed as a egg cell. I have existed at least as an egg cell since 1963, because mammals are born with all of the egg cells they get.

You were a part of your mother’s body when your mother’s body was a part of your grandmother’s body. You are not distinct from all mankind. You are not distinct from the entire tree of life. People will be asking stuff like ‘scientifically, does life begin at conception?’ Scientifically, life doesn’t begin. Life on earth began exactly once, and since then it has not begun one single time. You are a leaf on a tree that has been growing for billions of years.

You are also not distinct from the planet Earth. Like, do you think these are your carbon atoms? Do you think these are your nitrogen atoms? You are borrowing them, and one day you’re going to have to give them back. You are a piece of a planet that got up and looked at stuff for a little while.

Hug a tree, call your mom.”

(Reminds me of Alan Watts , but Lundberg explains it so much more factually.)

We should teach this to all our children. I’m teaching mine.

Follow Astrid Lundberg on Instagram.

Index

1. UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM

On sustainability

2. UNDERSTANDING HOW THE WORLD WORKS

On nature

On human nature

On the meaning of life and living

On culture

On morality

3. UNDERSTANDING HOW CHANGE WORKS

On the Next Level Society

On behavioral change

On marketing sustainability

4-A. FIXING HOW WE DESIGN THE WORLD

On naturalness

On naturalness in behaviour

On naturalness in art

Artworks of interest

On naturalness in architecture

Architecture of interest: naturalness

On livable architecture

Architecture of interest: livability

On naturalness in design

Design works of interest

4-B. FIXING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OURSELVES

On well-being, self care and happiness

4-C. FIXING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUSINESS AND SOCIETY

On responsible business

On Positive Design & design ethics

On privacy

Progressieve bureaus van Nederland, 2021

OTHER NOTES AND WRITINGS

On digital design, CX/UX, and technology

On the travel & hospitality industry

Miscellaneous

Other pages