Love Your Tree
An arts-based program for people of all ages focused on cultivating self-compassion, body acceptance and positive mental well-being through creativity, community connection, and self-reflection.
Love Your Tree
Who Can Participate?
Anyone and everyone. You can choose to participate as an individual OR host an event for your class or organization. Love Your Tree is a great way for individuals, families, schools, colleges, social organizations, or professional groups to get creative together while promoting positive mental wellbeing.
What Tools Do I Need?
An open, creative mind and your favorite art supplies of any kind. Everything else you need can be downloaded here.
Like Trees in a Forest...
We are strong. We are resilient. We are all unique. We are interconnected. We bring joy. How will you express this metaphor through your art? We can’t wait to see!
Get Involved
Ready to get started? View our online gallery for inspiration, or submit your artwork!
Step By Step
Ready to get started? Follow our guide to get involved with Love Your Tree.
Questions?
Email us at LoveYourTree@ercpathlight.com. We want to hear from you! Whether you’re an individual artist with questions about a submission or you’re a teacher or group leader looking to implement a LYT Workshop. You can also download our FAQs.
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Step 1: Download the LYT Program Pack that best meets your needs.
The Program Packs contain resources and activities to help you learn about the Love Your Tree themes and provide you with important information about participating. Complete the activities on your own or host a Love Your Tree workshop for your school or organization to get involved. Love Your Tree is flexible and adaptable to almost any setting or situation.
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Step 2: Have fun creating an original piece of art that celebrates who you are.
Use the activity sheets and other Love Your Tree resources to inspire your answer to the phrase, “Like a tree, I am…” and then start creating! You might choose to paint, sing, write, build, draw or film your creation – all forms of art are welcome. Artwork can be created individually or during group workshops, classes or other gatherings.
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Step 3: Submit your art and have a positive impact!
Love Your Tree entries will be added to the virtual gallery and showcased for all to enjoy. Remember…Artwork is a broad term that includes ANY application of your creativity and imagination! Entries may include art in all its forms. Download the FAQ sheet for details about how to submit different types of art. Submissions are featured in the Love Your Tree Gallery!
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Step 4: Share the Love.
The most important part of Love Your Tree is that the message can be shared with others. Be sure to share about your artwork and the gallery on social media using the hashtag #LoveYourTree!
Individuals can also spread their own Branches of Hope and Leaves of Inspiration messages directly with these shareable cards.
The Roots of the Love Your Tree Campaign
The tree is a universal symbol for growth, resilience, strength and the beauty of individual differences and diversity. Just like humans, every tree in the forest is unique, yet trees remain connected to one another and the world around them in powerful ways. Through participation in Love Your Tree, people of all ages are encouraged to explore the tree metaphor and share creative expressions of acceptance, gratitude for the unique form of our bodies and our lives, and the many ways in which we get stronger and heal through connection with others.
In the past, Love Your Tree has focused on highlighting body diversity and has helped thousands of participants use art to embrace positive body image for themselves and others. This year, Love Your Tree is growing in new and wonderful ways that provide new content and make room for a celebration of diversity that extends beyond body image to overall individual and community mental wellness.
Downloadable Materials
Find everything you need to get involved here.
Resources + Further Reading
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Articles
- Media Literacy: Educator Resources via the Center for Media Literacy
- ‘Forest Bathing’ Is Great for Your Health. Here’s How to Do It via TIME Magazine
- www.self-sompassion.org by Kristin Neff, Ph.D.
- https://www.morethanabody.org/
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Books + Podcasts
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle - Chapter: "Touch Trees" pp. 143
- No Tree Knows Mystery – Drawing Parallels Between the Life of a Human and a Tree - By Michael Ribas
- The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate―Discoveries from A Secret World by Peter Wohlleben et al.
- The Heartbeat of Trees: Embracing Our Ancient Bond with Forests and Nature by Peter Wohlleben and Jane Billinghurst
- Radical Belonging: How to Survive and Thrive in an Unjust World (While Transforming it for the Better) by Lindo Bacon
- How To Build Body Image Resilience with Dr. Lindsey Kite via the Food Heaven Podcast
- The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature by Sue Stuart-Smith
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Poems
- "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer begins: "I think that I shall never see, A poem lovely as a tree."
- “Advice from a tree” by Ilan Shamir
Dear Friend,
Stand Tall and Proud
Sink your roots deeply into the Earth
Reflect the light of a greater source
Think long term
Go out on a limb
Remember your place among all living beings
Embrace with joy the changing seasons
For each yields its own abundance
The Energy and Birth of Spring
The Growth and Contentment of Summer
The Wisdom to let go of leaves in the Fall
The Rest and Quiet Renewal of Winter
Feel the wind and the sun
And delight in their presence
Look up at the moon that shines down upon you
And the mystery of the stars at night.
Seek nourishment from the good things in life
Simple pleasures
Earth, fresh air, light
Be content with your natural beauty
Drink plenty of water
Let your limbs sway and dance in the breezes
Be flexible
Remember your roots
Enjoy the view - "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer begins: "I think that I shall never see, A poem lovely as a tree."
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Songs
- If I was a Tree on Spotify
- Love Your Tree 2021 Playlist
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Quotes
“… when you go out into the woods and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever. And you look at the tree and you allow it. You appreciate it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didn’t get enough light, and so it turned that way. And you don’t get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree. The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. And you are constantly saying “You’re too this, or I’m too this.” That judging mind comes in. And so I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are.” — Ram Dass, On Self Judgment
“Storms make trees take deeper roots.” -Dolly Parton
“One day when you wake up, you will find that you have become a forest. You have grown roots and found strength in them that no one thought you had. You have become stronger and more beautiful, full of life giving qualities. You have learned to take all the negativity around you and turn it into oxygen for easy breathing. A host of wild creatures live inside you and you call them stories. A variety of beautiful birds rest inside your mind and you call them memories. You have become an incredible self sustaining thing of epic proportions. And you should be so proud of yourself, of how far you have come from the seeds of who you used to be.” – Nikita Gill, You Have Become a Forest
Featured Partners
