Act like a tree
The Week That Was: #48. Reading time: 5 min 21 sec
Taking some time away from the familiar spaces, places and people, no matter how loved, offers an opportunity for perspective, reflection and renewal. An ancient tree can give you all of that.
It can get very, same old, same old when you wake-up at the same time each day, have an all too familiar routine, visit the same coffee spots and eating houses, engage with the same people and stare at the same screen every day. And so our road trip was eagerly anticipated.
We very rarely just go away. We immerse ourselves in the experience and make a conscious effort to reflect on what we learnt, what impact the time away had on us. How often have you gone away for a well deserved break and found that after a few days back, you feel like it hardly happened? Being back at the grindstone, back in the relentlessness of life, the break can feel like a distant dream. This break, however, has not been like that for us. We still feel rejuvenated, the memories remain fresh and feel good.
Our visit to the Big Tree in Hoekwil on our last day was not planned. It was an impromptu stop after eavesdropping on the proprietor of Hoekwil Country Cafe telling another client about it. We were at the Hoekwil Country Cafe for Sunday breakfast with Matthew’s son, Tristan, who lives in George. It is the home of the best cheesecake in South Africa, as voted by Eat In magazine, so of course, we had dessert too. When in Rome…
After a delicious breakfast, a second cup of coffee and a shared slice of blueberry cheesecake we went, feeling full and fat to find the tree. After paying R24 each for the privilege and happy to do so, we all meandered along the damp, shady path in the Woodville Forest wondering when we would see it. We didn’t have to worry, we could not have missed it. The 850 year old Outeniqua Yellowwood stands 33m tall and 12m in diameter. It is magnificent. Not quite the 'General Sherman' tree of California, a giant sequoia, 84m in height and 30m in circumference around the base, but the old Outeniqua Yellowwood definitely has stature and presence.
“I am amazed that it missed the woodcutters blade,” I said looking up at it’s foliage, noticing that there was another tree growing out of one of its branches. Yellowwoods were so sought after as timber trees, that from being an abundant resource they became almost extinct in some areas so it was really miraculous that this tree was able to avoid becoming furniture. Yellowwoods are now protected in South Africa.
We paused at the tree for a while, soaking up its wisdom. Feeling slightly awed by this Ancient we walked on. We meandered along the cool path, paused at the labelled trees and pointed out the small flowers and ferns nodding in the undergrowth. There were some felled trees, uprooted or cut down, left to decompose where they fell and make homes for the tiny inhabitants of the forest. We completed the 2km circular route and emerged into the sun again, feeling refreshed from our forest bath.
“That was lovely,” said Matthew, as we got into the car to drive back, “You know, a tree just is a tree. It doesn’t try to be anything else. It doesn’t say, ‘Oh I might get cut down, so I won’t grow, I’ll stay small and hide under a fern.’ It doesn’t try to be a fern. It just grows. Upwards towards the light. We could do well to act like a tree.”
“Say more,” I said, interested in Matthew’s perspective.
“Well,” he replied, “Act like a tree: just be you. Don’t try to be a fern or hide in fear of the woodcutter. Grow, develop, be. Like a tree. Too many of us try to be something we are not and then get angry or depressed when we cannot live up to some skewed expectation thrown at us from multiple social media sites.”
“I like it,” I said, “And if I’m a yellowwood, I don’t try to be an olive tree or a paperbark. I accept that I am a yellowwood. I am grounded, rooted, while rising up and spreading out, searching for the light. Drinking it in, reaching my boughs out to catch the sun and feel the rain. I offer shelter and protection as well as delight and joy. Ja, I think we could all do better if we acted like a tree.”
And it set me thinking.
Do I act like a tree? Not always. I have sometimes stayed small and crept away, tried to hide under a proverbial fern afraid of getting cut down. Sometimes I have been cut down to size, or used for what I can offer, had the fruits of my labours stripped from me and been left feeling naked and used.
Would a tree care? Would a tree buckle under the anger and disappointment? When a tree is damaged, you may see it in its curled leaves, scarred bark or broken limbs but it rarely succumbs. It just gets on with it, using whatever resources are at its disposal to revitalise and regrow. Trees are amazingly resilient. Cut a tree down leaving its roots intact and wait, given enough time the stump will grow shoots. I think I want to remember that and act more like a tree.
How would it look and feel to act like a tree?
Rooted and grounded but flexible enough to withstand the impact of the wind and storms.
Centred, strong and sure.
Reaching up for the light and filling out my space.
Always growing and getting stronger.
Offering my gifts to others but not so that I am crowded out or stripped of my bark or fruit or leaves or branches so that I can no longer thrive.
Nurturing and nourishing myself, to keep me healthy and strong. Having an immune system that can fight off parasites, germs, and illness.
Accepting there are seasons and being with these cycles, not fighting against them.
Knowing that it is useful to hibernate. Going quiet and resting in order to re-energise and have the strength and resources to grow more.
To become more of me.
Could you be more like a tree? In what ways? We would love it if you shared your thoughts.
Until next time.
Yours in feeling,
Matthew & Chantal