What Does A Tree Teach Us?

Have you ever looked at a tree? I mean really looked at one. Notice the bark or lack thereof on its’ trunk. Noticed the curves to its’ branches. Have you ever noticed that if a tree falls, that somehow tiny leaves and branches keep trying to sprout up from the fallen trunk or log? What can that teach us about ourselves? Or rather how we can be. Trees are resilient, they want to survive, they want to feel the warmth of the sun on their leaves. Trees are not much different than people. We want to survive. We want to feel warmth and light in our lives and we are resilient. No matter what horrible weather gets thrown at a tree, it carries on and it continues to grow. Flood may take over the ground and a tree will use the water to its advantage. Storms may break its’ branches and blow away its leaves, but a tree will grow new branches and leaves and new trees may grow as a result. When we look at it as just a tree, it doesn’t seem like much, but when we take note of everything a tree endures throughout each season, that simple tree becomes a miraculous living survivor. If only we could look at people and each other that way. At first glance, we may not seem like much, but when you take note of all that we endure each season, each year, or each day; we truly become something special. Survivors to say the least.

So with that, stand tall, reach your branches high and feel that warm bright light that is your life. You are strong and resilient.

Do Your Desires Disable You?

I want you to take a moment and think about this question; Do your desires disable you?

When considering this question, you must first take a step back and define a desire. A desire, by definition is a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen. Many times when we think of things we want or want to happen, they are tied to an object or person; Example: “I want to make more money” or “I wish for the love of (insert person’s name)”. When we weigh our desires on an object or person, it leads us to continuously feel unfulfilled. Once we get the joy of receiving that object or person, what next?

Desires centered around things or people will always leave us with a sense of lacking. Objects and people alone, don’t give us purpose in and of themselves. They are merely a goal, but once acquired and the luster has faded, what will continue to give us the joy we expect?

Try to focus on desires that give us a greater sense of purpose. Desires that help us grow as a person and that don’t have an end point. Focus on desires that give us a greater understanding of ourselves and empower us from our core. For some, this may be within a religious belief. For others it may be an inner feeling of piece; of letting go of what cannot be controlled. Having goals is a great way to accomplish tasks or grow in the materialistic world, but don’t confuse them with your desires. When it comes to our true desires, they are not things we can have, but rather that we become.