The purpose of the gratitude website is to highlight and honour the more-than-human world and our collective relationship to it on TRU campus. This is a site where anyone who is part of the TRU community – students, staff, faculty, residents, guests, can share stories of gratitude that they feel for a member of the more-than-human community. The more-than-human community member may be a tree or rock, a deer or owl – all of these elements of campus make up the full campus experience and we often experience moments of calm when our lives overlap with those of non-human beings, when we stop to recognize them. Particularly powerful stories of gratitude often occur when we are struggling and then soothed by the presence of the more-than-human lifeworld; however, just seeing the colours changing on a tree outside your classroom can have a profound effect on your wellbeing – this is a site to honour that.

Why Gratitude?

Studies have shown that there are tremendous benefits associated with the emotion and value of gratitude. The common assumption is that these benefits are derived from feeling gratitude; however, the greatest impact is when we receive gratitude or when we hear stories about gratitude. So, please contribute your own story of gratitude, but also take the time to read/listen/ponder the gratitude stories of others on campus – the act of hearing how others experience and engage with the more-than-human world can, quite simply, soothe your spirits and improve your day!

The idea for this site came from discussions, ideas, sharings and connections between the site moderator, students, other TRU employees, Kamloops community members, and engagements with the more-than-human world. Gratitude for the world is, and should be, shared, honoured, and highlighted – the site is a collective and a community space. The site was initiated, however, by Dr. Robin Westland in the Environmental, Culture, and Society Department at TRU. Please direct any comments or questions to rwestland@tru.ca.