Before My First Step: A Tribute to Mother Earth

Before I take my first step each morning, I bow to Mother Earth with gratitude.

At first, it was just a religious routine. But as I grew, I began to see the hidden wisdom behind it. I started reflecting deeply. For me, Mother Earth is even more precious than our own mother—because we all live on her. She carries every one of us, silently caring, asking nothing in return.

Even a small shake from her cause’s great destruction—earthquakes remind us of her quiet power. She holds within her every treasure we value: water, gold, diamonds, and more. She is our food factory. Every plant, every source of oxygen and nourishment grows on her. All living and non-living things rest on her and yet, we often harm her. If someone misbehaves with us or takes our things, we get angry. But she doesn’t. That’s why she is called Kshamayā Dharitrī—the Earth who forgives.

Our ancestors understood this deeply. That’s why they taught us to ask for her forgiveness before stepping on her. It’s not superstition. It’s awareness. It’s a miniature gesture of gratitude for her sacrifice—for sustaining life while absorbing our harm. She is so strong, yet so silent.

If she ever chose to act on her strength, she could take everything back in a moment. There’s a big difference between being strong and acting strong—and she shows us that true strength lies in patience.

We need her when we are born, we depend on her throughout life, and even after death, we return to her. She is the only one who cares for us even after life ends. This is my perception…

What’s yours?