Nothing Holding You Back

Earlier this week, someone told me that they bumped their head on a tree branch—not while horseback riding—they were walking down the street. Ouch! I guess it’s possible since people and trees come in all heights. Tree branches often grow dangerously low making it almost impossible to avoid them. Sometimes obstructions stop us, sometimes they cause us to pause, and sometimes we crash through them, like in this case:

                                         https://youtu.be/dz5MGJGmfiM                

Here’s one of the few scenarios where a majority of people side with window breakers. When there’s a task to complete, committed people find a way to prevail. A wise person assesses a situation and determines whether to circumvent an obstacle or smash through it. What situation are you struggling to push through and how will you prevail?

All We Want After Christmas

I had planned to get the Christmas tree up early—that didn’t happen. In fact, one week before Christmas and it’s just going up. It doesn't matter because I’m going to enjoy every minute. Few things are as festive as a brightly-lit tree bedazzled with new sparkling ornaments and older hand-made ones to bring out the joy of the season. The question is: why? Why do we decorate trees in our homes anyhow?

The Christmas tree has a bumpy history. At one point people shunned them, but began embracing them after cultural traditions changed. Over time, the type of tree and the decorations varied to reflect our personalities. What does this say about you?

                                        

                                        https://youtu.be/8mNT4AhgnMk
Think about how a decorated Christmas tree in our house makes us feel. After Christmas,
how can you continue feeling that special joy?

The Fruit of the Matter

We’ve had an unspectacular season for fruit, so imagine my surprise when I picked up the juiciest plum of the year. After one bite, juice ricocheted off the paper towel and splashed all over my shoulder. How does that happen? When it comes to fruit, you never know what you’ll get. Have a look:

                                         https://youtu.be/ik3l4U_17bI

There’s an artistic quality to this science experiment, but the Frankenstein nature of it overwhelms its beauty. Someone once said you’ll know a person by their fruits, meaning you’ll understand who they are based on their character and actions. Unlike Prof. Sam’s project, it’s natural for us to be multi-faceted. But if you had to squeeze the core of your character into one sentence, what would you say?   

Piece by Piece

Once the unusually warm weather showed up, I started checking for signs of spring—and that’s when I spotted what looked like an extreme haircut. Standing alongside the road was a towering evergreen pruned and scooped out so much that it resembled the letter “c.” Poor tree.

The sacrifice was necessary. The pruning prevented the tree’s branches from damaging power lines and plunging the neighborhood into darkness if a major storm blew through town. The township chose uninterrupted electricity over aesthetics, and residents probably supported the trade-off. After all, who wants to be without lights? While certain trade-offs cost more than others, this courageous girl didn’t let the costs stop her:  

                                     https://youtu.be/cH0xGjBgnks

I wonder how many of us are brave enough to jump in and make a huge difference in someone else’s life? Many times, change must first start in the most difficult places—in ourselves. What are you thinking about pruning, piece by piece, from your life to create a better you?             

Doing the Heavy Lifting

During last week’s storm, strong winds took down a tree limb in a relative’s yard. Measuring about twelve feet long, the thick branch fell across the walkway creating a tripping hazard. Although I managed to push it aside, the weight of it caught me off-guard. No wonder fallen limbs damage homes and cars. Rotted or dead tree branches typically end up falling off when high winds come along, and sometimes fierce winds call for some serious tree cutting. That can be a tricky job, just ask this guy:

                                         https://youtu.be/GJphMdndIUc

Not everyone should wield a chainsaw. If you’re planning to cut down a full-grown tree, it’s best to think about how, when, and why you’re doing it, otherwise you could wind up with some unanticipated damage. Doesn’t that sound like life? When we take a chainsaw approach to handling problems, chopping and slicing the wrong way, we’re destined to rack up a heap of sadness, disappointment, and regret.          

What’s really the best way to deal with your heaviest problem?        

It’s Super Natural

Anything not nurtured is unlikely to grow. For instance, consider the little tree in our yard that’s been the same size for years. In winter, it stands there battling the ice and snow. In the summer, somehow it endures the sun’s scorching heat. When a brown group of leaves emerge, I expect the tree to dry up and die, but the brown leaves fall off and the tree remains. It’s  either a dwarf tree or a miracle tree. Of course, I prefer to call it a miracle tree because it survives every challenge the weather brings. Here’s another survivor:

http://youtu.be/PztJkvChtOo

 

The video seemed to show a miracle, but the hiker gave a scientific explanation for every aspect of the amazing scene. Typically, we assume that whatever science can explain isn’t a miracle. Is that always true? People will accept a scientific theory until the next theory trumps the last one, so maybe science doesn’t have the final say about everything. What do you say? What miracles have you experienced?   

   

What’s Your Treasure?

What makes a great gift? I received a pine tree during the holidays. The plant only measured about eight inches high, but with time and the right environment, it could grow up to two hundred feet. Now that’s a gift. Isn’t it amazing that something so small has the potential to grow so large? The next time someone asks me if anything is new I may say, “Well, I am growing a two-hundred-foot tree inside my house.” There’s a conversation starter.

I’m sure we all have a few unique items sitting in our homes, items with a story about how we acquired them or why we think they’re special. Perhaps you have a collection like one of these:

                                         http://youtu.be/LV-8_ZAG9HQ   Britain’s 5

 As a child, I collected unusual pebbles and kept them hidden in a small, white box under my bed. I remember admiring the smooth or glittery ones the most. I still like finding pretty shells at the beach and I’ll usually bring some home, but no more than a handful. The collections in the video started small and then took on a life of their own. Items often become favorites when they’re odd, evoke wonder and emotion or because they’re connected to a special event or person.   

What’s your most treasured item and why is it so special?