I've read once about a tribe in Africa who has an unique practice. Whenever someone in their tribe commits a crime, the entire tribe will come together, surround the man and one by one, come and tell the man what he's done good in his life, how he has changed life for the better for someone. Each person, from the oldest to the youngest will continue telling him of the positive he has brought to his tribe. They do this so that the man REMEMBERS who he is, that he is more than his one, single wrong mistake, that he is capable of so much more good in his life, that his mistake doesn't define him but that he has and can do so much better.
I can never forget this story for it really resonates with me. Many say that we humans are essentially evil. But we are essentially good too. Its when we forget who we are, what we really are that we lose ourselves to doubts, self-criticism, fear.
So remember.
If you can't remember, then open your eyes. Look. See.
See what is right there in front of you. What has been there all along. Look at the trees.
Look how different each tree is from the other. Yet, you will find that each one of them is beautiful, unique and strong in its own way. And as you look at it closely, you will see how trees teach us about real strength, endurance, patience.
Trees aren’t strong just because of their ability to stand against strong winds. No. Even the strongest tree will be uprooted, broken by harsher winds, storms. They are strong because of their ability to come back even against the harshest environment. It is the very essence of nature to never accept defeat, never give up. It is the very essence of nature to rise. Every. Single.Time.
A tree may lose all its leaves, become bare in the winter, shrivelled to such an extent that anyone won’t find it surprising if it dies. It may turn to nothing more than a mere log, with nothing to look at, nothing of usefulness. But that is not the end of a tree.
Winter may laugh and believe that it has defeated the ever green, strong tree in that moment. It may cover its branches with the coldest snow, bury half of its height, ridiculing the once powerful tree. Throughout that period, nobody will help the shrivelled, silent suffering tree. And if it had died, the world would just shrug its shoulders and continue on its way. But then again, that is not the end of a tree.
You see, a tree is better than that. For she has been raised in the lap of her mother, Nature itself. And, she is her mother’s daughter. The very essence of Mother Nature runs through all her roots, trunk and branches. Even when the harsh winter nights embrace her. Hurt her. Push her to the limit. Even when she is reduced to nothing but an ugly, barren log looking tree. Even when the world has forgotten about her.
Because she is made of tougher substances. When the earth finally tilts and the sun grows in strength again, the haughty winter will find itself slowly stripped off its power. For winter’s biggest ally – darkness is now slowly replaced by day.
Slowly but surely, she will build herself up again. Leaf by Leaf. Bark by Bark. Until she turns herself once more from a bare trunk that nobody cared about to that of a tree that is filled with the birds, animals and people. She will bear flowers and fruits. Her shade will be what every creature sought when summer comes again.
She will become so full of life that everyone won't even comprehend that she is once a bare, looking trunk. She will rebuild herself until all traces of her tormenters is gone. She will become her own epitome of victory, the very image of success.
Now, look at yourself. If a tree could go through all those tough times and make it, why can't you? You've ran too fast, too hard, too much that you've forgotten why you're running in the first place. Where you're running to. You've focused so much on speed, agility that you've forgotten the most important thing that matters to you --remember, what is that single most important factor to you?
What is that thing that makes you smile, makes your heart warm in your chest? What is that thing that you want most in the world?
Running is the process, the method to get you there. But where is that? What is there? Who is waiting for you there? Why are you running?
Pause. Breathe.
Why are you running? Stop. Just for a few minutes, stop. Go and look at the trees.
Remember. Who. You. Are.
