My Tree, My Teacher
My husband, amateur gardener, planted some papaya trees too near to the large areca palm trees on the perimeter of our yard. As they grew towards the light, away from the palm trees, their trunks first grew along the ground and then reached upwards. I see these trees from my window, and I always admire the particular beauty of their twisted trunks. Beautiful they are, and also, I think, wise teachers.
Trees are wonderful metaphors for strength, resilience, and growth. They teach us to grow strong roots to remain grounded while we reach for the sky. My papaya trees are more grounded than most, as they literally had to hug the ground before reaching for the light.
I am drawn to these trees because of their unique growth pattern. I marvel at the lessons these trees hold for me:
1. Determination
It does not matter where you are planted or where you find yourself. If you have the determination, you will find your way to your true purpose.
2. Flexible
Your journey is not a straight line, as much as you would like it to be. You need to be flexible and understand that the twists and turns in life give you strength and make you better suited to fulfill your purpose.
3. Individuality
If you look or act like everyone else around you, you deny yourself your own individuality. Your difference, your unique character, is your valuable gift to the world.
4. Transform
You have the ability to transform hardships and setbacks into possibilities. It may take work and you may not reach your goal as quickly as you wish, but you will be stronger for it.
My beautiful papaya trees are now sufficiently healthy and mature to bear delicious fruit. Are they aware of how much I admire them for having pushed beyond the constraints inadvertently placed on them? Do they understand how much they inspire me?
I am, of course, grossly anthropomorphizing my trees. Perhaps instead of humanizing them, I should be attempting to be more plant-like, more like them.
Perhaps if I accepted my differences, my self-perceived flaws, as a valuable component of my unique nature, I could become more accepting of myself – and, in turn, of others. If I accepted my struggles and setbacks as the things that have made me more resilient, I could be less resentful.
If I understood that although my journey may seem to take longer than others, what I can give to the world is no less valuable.
Thank you, papaya trees. You are my teachers, and for that, I am grateful.
