All About Trees

As I was walking yesterday, I found I was paying attention to trees. All the different kinds here on the Mountain! I recognize some of them by their bark, their leaves, their height. But, to really know a tree, I have to watch it closely: where it stands, how it moves, its relationship to other trees. And I got to wondering . . . if I was a tree, what kind would I be?

So play along with me: if you were a tree, what kind would you be?

Are you a mighty Ponderosa pine? Tall, with branches clustered toward the top part of the tree. Strong, sturdy branches with the flexibility to manage powerful winds. Massive roots to anchor firmly into the ground, with a network running deep into the belly of the earth.

• How strong are you?
• If your bark is thumped or cracked, do you quickly grow that new layer to heal that wound?

This tree is an evergreen, for its needles grow day after day and are constantly replenished.

• How do you rejuvenate yourself?
• Do you get enough rest?

Or are you a juniper? Being sturdy, hale, and hearty is its hallmark. It can pop up wherever it wants to.

• Are you flexible enough to grow anywhere you can get a foothold?

Juniper branches are shorter and stubbier, giving durability a new name. Its shape is like a bush, more rounded to withstand heavy snows and drought.

• Are you resilient?
• Can you think outside the box?

Perhaps you’re more like an aspen tree. The Mountain is gifted with vast stands of aspens. Their gray-white bark is in sharp contrast to the brown of the pine or the juniper. And their gold color ripples in the breeze.

• Do you use color to stand out?
• Do you move and touch others’ lives?

Aspens grow as a community: their root structure supports the entire group. Runners grow out, then pop up to develop into yet another tree. They grow close together, supporting each other. Interconnected, they nourish the cluster.

• Are you the type of person who gives and supports others?

All of these trees weather storms, parasites, and insects. They handle droughts, floods, heat, and cold every day. And they continue to flourish and grow. Perhaps their bark gets bumped or scraped. They have to have time to grow back together. If attacked by an insect, the trees have to have the time to mend and repair.

• Do you have a support system?
• How durable are you?

You have other resources too. Your roots travel deep into your past, bringing useful experiences to dream big and create a wonderful life. Learnings and teachings are gathered from many situations over the years to provide wisdom for growth.

Just as a tree needs time to grow, it needs rest during the winter before springtime. You also need time to take a break and savor the moment. Your mind reaches to the sky for inspiration and creativity as your roots reach for nourishment and sustenance. You’re in a perfect place to feel your connection with all that’s around you as you live on the Mountain.

What kind of tree are you? I’ve only mentioned a few, so perhaps I missed one, and maybe you’re a different type altogether. And how do you tap into your inner resources? To draw from them (and have some fun,) check out Unstuck Minute for tips and encouragement on my Facebook page. Live unstuck!