I call it my tree because I can see it from my balcony. I love trees, but living in a city, these are rare, so I cherish this one. I can spend hours just looking at it and drawing its energies into me. I have seen how my tree changes itself in all the seasons, and love it equally in all its avatars.
This morning, while spending time with my tree, I thought these thoughts...
My tree breathes in all the toxic fumes generated all around it, but it gives out only life-giving and life-sustaining oxygen. Lesson to be learnt here - no matter what is dealt to us, no matter how toxic, heart-rending or gut-wrenching, we should send out and share only good thoughts, good vibes and uplifting words with those around us.
My tree never rushes. Each of its thousands of leaves takes its own time to grow and become mature. Its flowers are in no hurry either. Each flower waits patiently till Nature creates her distinctive shape and features and when she is ready, she blooms spreading her color and beauty to everyone, without exception. Lesson - there is no need to 'rush about and worry so'. Leave ourselves to Nature till she carves and creates us in our own unique shape. Then, we need to share ourselves in the beauty Nature has created, with those around us.
My tree is not scared of the winter. Though she looks glorious when she is in full bloom with an abundance of dark green leaves and beautiful red flowers, come winter she has to shed all of her glory. Every single leaf and flower is gone and my tree stands in its nakedness against the harsh winds, the hot sun, the swirling dust and terrible dryness. No birds chatter on the tree. My tree weathers it all patiently and bravely, becoming stronger in her solitude. The twigs and branches that cannot withstand these vagaries of the season are shed. Everything that distracts my tree from its standing straight and tall are cast off. And then, when all the conditions of Nature have been fulfilled, the first tiny little pale green leaves make their debut. Soon, the tree looks fresh and new and pale green. The leaves glisten in the early morning. And then, gradually, gradually, very gradually they mature and the tree stands tall and full. Lesson - we too need winter in our lives so that we can remove all that is bringing us down. We need the quietness of solitude to sift and sort our insides and clean ourselves up so that when the first winds of spring blow, we'll be new persons...