Saturday, April 9, 2011

Why Trees Are Not Lost

I had an epiphany the other day. (It's been a long time coming.)

A lot of us wake up in the morning, go about our usual routine, go to work our usual route, and approach our tasks with the usual resignation. And usually, the quiet message playing in the background is "Boring, bored, ho-hum, been there - done that, boring..."

The funny thing is, we don't seem to notice it enough to DO anything about it. Well, some become weekend warriors, but most of us just put one foot in front of the other.

So by now you are wondering, what does this all have to do with trees?!


Isabelle Smith

My insight came from the coming together of several comments that all have the same root.
  • "Just make sure you look where you want to go as you drive, because the car will follow your line of sight. If you are looking at the trees, that is where you'll end up."
  • "Don't worry about skiing into a tree. Just look where you want to go (between them) and that's where your body will take you."
  • "You are not lost, the trees know where you are."
I know my readers are intelligent and probably didn't need the italics to point out the message.
Except perhaps, for the last comment. That drove the nail home for me.

We are all heading some place - many of us realize we have a choice in the matter. If not the final destination, then for sure how we will get there.


Pawel Kryj

But sometimes we feel really lost. Directionless. All we see are the obstacles. Perhaps - because that is what we are looking for. Most of us are so afraid of failing that the hurdles are what we look for in our path. Funny how they appear exactly where we thought they would!

What if - and this was my A-ha! moment - we focused on where we wanted to go - between the obstacles?


Marjorie Manicke

What if we focus on exactly what we want in a job, in a home, in a client, in ourselves. Although visioning helps, I am talking getting really really detailed - FULL descriptions. Size, color, gender, location, commute time, responsibilities, to the last detail.

And then we make a list of things we could do to prepare ourselves to get there and the steps it would take to get there.

And then we put it on a time line. Be as specific with times and dates as you can. Next Monday, before dinner. Thursday night by 5 pm. By next August 1st.

Then you tell someone. Your partner, your best friend, your coach, your sibling, your mom or dad. Someone you trust to check on you, encourage you, and hold you accountable.

Thomas Boulvin

I bet you a year's worth of car washes (who doesn't want a clean car?) that you will reach your goal without hitting any trees... I mean obstacles.

You will no longer see the obstacles, and trees will become a source of energy, comfort, shade, and wisdom. They aren't lost, they are where they should be. And you will be too.