Earlier this summer I went camping with two very good friends. One of my friends knows the area well and told us about some Limber Pine trees that had been growing around 1,000 years! We had to see them and he took us to a cliff face where we saw the tree in this post. It was absolutely stunning. This tree has seen so much in Canada. I have no idea how many storms it has weathered or groups of people it has encountered. The brilliance of Limber Pines, in many ways, is their ability to flourish where most living things cannot survive. As you can see in the picture this tree has thrived even though it is fully in the wind and living on the edge of a cliff! I am sharing this story and this picture in order to encourage everyone reading these words with the wisdom of this Limber Pine.
Resilience is so much more important than natural ability, good looks, or popularity. This tree is a metaphor that is important to pay attention to. Think of these words for even a few seconds: resilience, persistence, indefatigability, pluck, etc. If there is only one word that describes success it is related to these in some way. One of my favorites is the word persistence, but for today I will focus on resilience. Resilience has connotations of someone who keeps striving for something even though obstacle after obstacle are in the way. Personally, when I realized just how resilient I already am and have been for my entire life I finally saw my potential in a very different way. Here’s my argument: You are resilient! The reason you are reading these words right here, today, is because there is something inside you that so desires to feel free and empowered. Keep fighting for yourself! Know that you don’t need to fight against anyone else, simply fight the individual battle that allows you to reach your portential in ways you may not believe are possible. It doesn’t matter if you don’t currently believe it! Keep striving for more and you will believe at some point. Know that I believe in you. I may not even know you, but I do know you are capable of so much more.
There were branches on this tree that looked completely dead and yet had fully healthy growth if we looked further along that particular branch. It was twisted and gnarled in so many places and yet was quite healthy. When I saw it I thought of many people in my life with great life experience a wisdom that refused to go quietly into their latter years. My grandfather, before he passed away, had so much heartache and hurt. From certain perspectives people may have thought he was finished and looked too old and dried up to contain a vibrancy that he still had. The reason I believe he still had a desire to pursue his passion; helping others, is because we had long conversations about it late into the night after going out for dinner. He was a wonderful man and I appreciated, even now, his wisdom and willingness to invest in me.
Human beings are so much more resilient in many ways that trees. While trees are at the mercy of the environment around us, to a degree, humans can control our environment. That means we have the ability to form environment around us instead of simply being formed by it. We are not at the mercy of others. We are creators of ideas and masters of our environment when we are living out our potential. Keep in mind that almost all of nature blends into its environment. Not humans. Earl Nightingale has taught me that while almost all of nature blends in, humans do the opposite. If I have a mindset that is poor, I will unwittingly search out and find others that are similar. If I have a mindset of abundance and giving, I will automatically begin moving toward others who are similar.
Here is a challenge for the beginning of another wonderful week for you. Begin to become the person you must be to enjoy the environment you desire in life. Do you desire a partner in life who values you? Become a person who values others and yourself. Do you want to live a life of financial freedom? Become a person who brings greater value to others than anyone else currently around you. Do you want to live a long and health life physically, emotionally, and spiritually? Become a person who is invigorated by thoughts of your own worth to this world. Continue to fight for what you know you are capable of even if your beauty has been covered by others’ expectations for years or decades!
Do you have questions? Please comment below and I would love to interact with you.
