This January I am not returning from a holiday cruise like so many years previously. I actually stuck it out at home...and made some wonderful discoveries!
Hope.
I named the little tree Hope. Hardly original, but there in the midst of 150 year old tree roots sprang a little hope. Where two mighty oak trees once stood and reigned over the front yard this little tree popped up. I couldn't have planned it better if I tried. I like the fact that against the odds this little guy pushed it's way up from the rocky soil, nourished by little bits of rain and whatever nutrients the crunchy oak leaves crumbled and provided him. I had to built a small rock wall around it to let the gardeners know it is important to me.
Nearby lay two hearts. Nothing more than two slices leftover from the tree which fell last March, but which are too heavy to move. Two heavy hearts meant to become tables, but instead lay one straddled atop the other, afraid to leave the spot they have known for over a century. Who could blame them?
You'll notice the scars etched into them, mostly on the softer outer wood, where they grew faster though not much stronger. It seems when the center of the hearts were formed over a century ago times were tough for them. Through many years of droughts they conserved energy become tighter, more dense, a solid core. But as time passed the house was built, water was pumped up where it had not been. The hearts grew faster and got softer until disease could take hold. It wasn't immediately visible, but one day when the ground was soaked she just fell over.
Two hearts.
I'm now wrestling with making more changes to my life. I need to figure out how I can be more flexible. To bend with the breezes of change. I needed to look no further than the little tree I placed at the entrance of my home.
Bent, not broken.
You will notice behind it a slice of one of the old trees is leaning on it. (Dare I say pushing from behind?) Everyone needs a little push once an awhile, or maybe I mean support?
Sometimes a larger overview is helpful.
The chosen path.
The bigger picture doesn't really show the piece which props the tree up, but instead it shows a path, rocky yet along the way there are blooms of encouragement to get you to keep going.
Sometimes the view doesn't show what is missing, but what is now, and often it is surprising. Resiliance is within us all, we just need to keep the door open to the possibility.
I've opened some doors already. Some have closed too. Not only behind me, but some in my face with a gust of wind. They can stop you for awhile, and it is easy to just let things be. To stop. The hard part is to get that door open again. I'm going for it.
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
M.Stan Yow
zanelle
Keka
Del Stone
PlannerDan
Myriad
Salon.com
Comments
Rated♥
HUGGGGGGGGGG
I would, as a person of wood, like to have those hearts but know they are now a part there.
Wonderful post, pictures, life!
My daughter brought home an evergreen just like Hope from camp a few years ago and named it "Tootie". Her little tree is still doing well and growing slowly out in the yard.
Resiliance you've proved a thousand fold and I can only add I hope your little tree thrives and hope takes you down a much smoother path. Love you.
xoxo
~R~