Undiminished
As 2022 comes to a close, I can’t help but look back at what this year has taught me. This morning as I sat with a coffee in my living room, looking out at the lake and watching the snow falling I “suddenly” noticed the lone tree in the midst of this mostly white landscape. It is December 23, there is snow outside, the temperature is below freezing and yet I noticed there were still leaves on the tree! I remembered that this is the only tree left standing after the devastation caused to my deck by the rising water in the last 3 years. There were 2 other, much bigger trees beside this one.
We are expecting a major snowstorm here today. It is currently -11C and calm. I can see a wall of white moving across the lake towards me. Apparently, this weekend’s snowstorm is expected to be the worst storm in 25 years – blowing snow, blizzard like conditions, 92km/hour gusts, icy conditions and poor to no visibility on the roads. And here I sit, in a warm, peaceful silence and stillness that got me thinking…
Noticing the tree, it struck me that it was a symbol for me. I found the image of that solitary tree very inspiring. It looks so alone (All One) but strong and independent out there! I relate to it in many ways.
The following words came into my mind: Resilient. Independent. Strong. Thriving in tough conditions. Come sun, wind, rain or snow it stands tall. Undiminished. Beautiful. Trusts it’s being looked after and that it will not only survive but thrive. It is not clinging to Life. It is living its Life. It is BEING a tree. It is not trying to be anything other than a tree – this particular tree, this species of tree, this unique tree.
It holds its center despite what may be swirling around outside of it. Undaunted. Standing tall. BEING what/who it is. The calm in the eye of the storm. It doesn’t change what it is in essence. Sometimes the weather (my emotions) may make it flourish, its leaves will burst forth lush and green. Sometimes it may dance in the wind. The wind doesn’t blow it off course. Sometimes it needs to endure. So, it bends and is flexible in its strength and vulnerability and withstands the weather, knowing that there are 4 seasons and that it has experienced all kinds of weather – warm sunny days, windy days, rainy days, snowy days, stormy days, knowing too that whatever it may be experiencing in the moment will pass, will change, and will become something else. It remains confident that it will survive, it will bend, it will be flexible, it will flourish, and it will continue to grow. And it knows all this because it is simply BEING what it is – a tree.
May we all be as blessed as this tree. It knows itself. My deepest wish is to know myself as intimately, accept myself as completely, approve of myself as uncompromisingly, and love myself as fiercely as this little tree.
From wherever you are reading this, I am sending you all my best wishes for your future journeys and for your future endeavors.
SATNAM!
Candace Castro
Dec 23, 2022
