I Hugged A Tree

I Hugged A Tree

The past two years have felt like battling a storm in the open sea relentless exhausting and unpredictable. Yet despite everything I am grateful for one thing the opportunity to be close to nature. There is a beautiful lush park near my home where I can find peace take deep breaths and allow my inner storms to settle.

Nature has always been my greatest healer and wisest advisor guiding me through the best and most challenging moments of life.

If you are familiar with my struggles you know what I have been through. But if not here is the short version. A sudden injury and an unrelated infection turned my life upside down. Out of nowhere I started experiencing severe bone and joint pain fatigue bladder issues, and random food allergies. It took time for me to accept but the truth is that I have been living with chronic pain.

Since these symptoms began I have been searching for ways to heal and understand what caused this. So far there have been no significant changes. Those who live with chronic pain understand how difficult it can be to keep going when the pain becomes overwhelming. Sometimes even getting out of bed feels like a battle.

After spending days in bed lost in darkness and despair, something changed this morning. Through the gap in my closed curtains I caught a glimpse of the magical colors of autumn. It felt like they were calling me. Being a November born I couldn’t say no. The golden leaves the cold wind and the trembling trees seemed to whisper: Don’t give up on your life just yet.

Why Am I Like a Tree?

I gathered the strength to walk along the muddy paths leading to my little forest. And then I felt the urge to do something I often love to do:

I hugged a tree.

If you have never done it I highly recommend trying it. It is one of the most peaceful and grounding experiences. As I placed my hands on its rough bark and looked up I saw the tree standing tall reaching toward the sky magnificent resilient and unwavering. A living testament to centuries of endurance.

But suddenly a wave of sadness washed over me. Those beautiful yellow orange and green leaves they wouldn’t last. Soon they would fall and the tree would be left bare and exposed to the harsh cold winter. It would never be the same again.

I stood still in my sorrow for a moment. Then I heard a quiet whisper in the wind.

Winter will pass and the tree will survive.

This Too Shall Pass

The thought settled deep within me bringing an unexpected sense of peace.

Will my pain ever go away? I don’t know. But what I do know is that nothing lasts forever. Neither happiness nor suffering. The only constant in life is change.

Like trees we too go through different seasons. Some bring abundance and light while others strip us bare leaving us vulnerable. But these seasons are not meant to break us they are meant to shape us.

The Beauty of Transformation

The tree will endure the brutal cold even if it loses parts of itself for a while. And with time it will bloom again changed yet standing tall.

This phase of my life no matter how painful is just a season. And like every season it, too shall pass.

Perhaps I will never be the same again. But maybe that’s not a loss it’s growth. Maybe this is how life molds us making us stronger wiser and more aware of ourselves.

If you are going through pain or a difficult time know that you are not alone. I see you I feel you and I send you my prayers.

After all I do love hugging strong beautiful trees!