Tag Archives: spring blossoms

The Broken Tree of Love

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Next to a driveway I take frequently to access  a hiking trail head, there’s a kind of a bush or tree that I assumed was dead because it had fallen down and it’s limbs were scattered in a seemingly chaotic pattern.  It looked awful.  Being winter, of course, there are no leaves on any trees, but I assumed this was just dead, and wondered why the city didn’t do anything about clearing this eyesore.  I found myself becoming irritated and complaining in my head about it every time I saw it.

Well, I’ll bet you can guess what happened.  Spring came and out pops the most beautiful lavender blossoms I’ve ever seen all over these “dead” branches.  Every day this broken tree gets more beautiful and I feel a bit guilty having judged, and even been irritated by, something whose beauty was merely hidden from view.  Since then, every time I pass this tree I praise it and am grateful for not only its beauty but also the lesson it holds for me. 

Now, yesterday I pull into this driveway, regard these magnificent branches and what do I see?  Little leaves are springing out that are in the shape of hearts.  Heart-shaped leaves. Well, that just did it for me.  How could I miss the metaphor now?

I was compelled to ask myself if there were anything within me or in my life that I have been irritated by, or have been judging as ugly, broken and wanting to get rid of.  After some deep reflection, I’d have to say yes, there is.  So, what if I held this “thing” as a “tree” whose beauty is simply hiding?  What if I endeavor to find a blessing within this condition?   What would happen if I picture little hearts all over it?  What would happen if I expressed genuine gratitude for this?

My guess is that this “ugly, broken” thing will blossom into a beautiful healing for me and, when it does, I will have expanded my life and be able to express more of my potential.  Of course this takes some effort on my part. It’s not as simple as just affirming a blessing for this condition a few times.  Not after years of condemning it.  It will take daily diligent effort.  But now that the lesson is so clear and my intention is set, nothing can hold me back.

How about you? Is there an area of your life that you feel is broken or that makes you irritated and you wish it would just go away?  Is there something inside yourself you’ve been judging as unacceptable?  Try to see it as branch in winter ready to spring forth beautiful blossoms at the mere thought of you changing your mind about it and loving it.  Express your gratitude for it daily and know that when you do you are, in effect, calling forth the blessings.  If you are a visual person, you could visualize little heart-shaped leaves all over it.  What I know for sure is that everything is in our lives for a reason and, seeing it from the eyes of gratitude transforms a “curse” a magical blessing that will help us express more of our divine potential.

Gratitude Experiment: Day 65

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Being new to the East Coast (a Southern California transplant) I am always astonished by the vibrant colorful flowering that happens in the Spring. The pink dogwoods, the white snow puff pear trees, the wild yellow daffodils, the pink and white magnolia blossoms all are truly extraordinary!  Southern California never really has Spring because the trees never really lose their leaves. It’s never really winter there. 

The winter here is real too.  No leaves.  Not much sun.  Bare, lifeless and cold.  So, seeing a real Spring for the first time in contrast to the stark winter is a real eye-opener.  It becomes so clear that the lifeless-looking trees in winter are not dead at all.  They’re simply dormant…reformulating…waiting for the right time.   And with the  right tilt of the planet, the warmth of the sun and nourishment of the rain they burst forth in their splendor.

Just like the trees in winter, there are  parts of my life…goals, dreams, desires that once seemed completely dead.  However, with a little reformulating, some warmth of love and intention, the sprinkling of support and the nourishment of proactive gratitude, these can also burst forth their glory and be fulfilled.

How about you? Are there any areas of your life that you’ve just given up as “dead.”   Are there any goals, dreams, or heart’s desires that have remained dormant for far too long?   Perhaps they’re not at all dead.   Perhaps they’re just waiting for the conditions to favorable before they can blossom.   Following are 3 steps for creating a “spring-like” atmosphere for the natural blossoming of those dreams and heart’s desires…

1. Reformulate your goals and dreams.  Is there a new or different way this dream can be realized?  Think outside the box as they say.  How else can this desire express or be realized?  Sometimes the distance between two points is not a straight line.  Journal some ideas just to get the juices flowing. Then narrow down the possibilities and focus on one or two.

2. Stand in the warmth of supportive and encouraging friends.  Be certain they are supportive before you share your plans with them.  Also, shower yourself with your own support and encouragement…whether that takes the form of meditation, visualization, affirmation or prayer.

3. Finally, nourish your life with gratitude.  Develop a daily practice of gratitude for everything in your life.  Follow my steps for practicing proactive gratitude as explained in the “How to Participate” page. And pay special attention to, and celebrate any and every step forward in the realization of those dreams.

Let’s take a cue from nature.  All spring long, when we look at the beauty of this planet, let’s remember that all of nature is designed to come to fruition and express it’s innate magnificent potential.  We’re created from the same substance, therefore, so are we destined to realize our heart’s desires.

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I am so grateful for the abundance of vibrant color and new green buds springing up all around me.

I am grateful for the fabulous massage I received earlier.

I am grateful for the wonderful public school in our area.

I am grateful for new friendships.

I am grateful for a sparkling clean house and the fact that I didn’t have to do it!