Prompt/Flowering Trees
Maybe Fate Treats You Unfairly, So What?
What a tree taught me
The accidental union of a sperm and an egg creates life. Before we were born, no one told us what the world looked like, and no one asked us for our opinion.
We have neither the right to decide whether to be born nor the right to choose which country and what kind of family to be born in.
It all depends on fate. Fate’s injustice to us begins here.
The same goes for trees.
Maybe it was the wind that blew the seeds to the plains, maybe it was birds who took them up the mountains, so they landed on the ground, and the sun and rain helped them break the ground, sprout, take root, and grow into big trees.
After babies are born, their parents will take care of them. But when tree seeds fall into the dirt, they are on their own, and in different places, they will be treated differently.
Fate has not been fair to trees from the beginning either.
Two trees are growing in front of my window. One of which is on the grass between the two buildings. The terrain here is low-lying, which is conducive to collecting rainwater.
During the dry season, the roots of the tree can penetrate deep into the soil to absorb moisture, and in the hot sun, the buildings on both sides can give the tree some shade.
The other tree is not so lucky. It grows on a slope, and while it absorbs sunlight and rain better than the tree on the lower terrain, it is completely exposed to the scorching sun in hot summers.
If it didn’t rain for days, it would be tough for this tree.
The water flows downwards, making the slope unable to hold rainwater. On the other hand, because of the high slope, it is hard for the roots of the tree to absorb moisture from the depth of the ground like the tree on the lower terrain.
They both were planted when this residential complex was established. But gardeners just trim the branches, not water them. Now they look very different.
The tree on the lower terrain is lusher and still retains some green leaves even in hot summer, while the tree on the slope is thinner and its leaves are almost withered before the fall.
This summer, the temperature has been very high, and it has rarely rained. I’ve been worried about that tree on the slope.
However, I seem to be thinking too much. Although the tree had lost most of its leaves and looked haggard, it stood there quietly every day to meet the sun. I think it must be doing its best to get the water in the ground.
Finally, it rained one day!
When the raindrops fell on the tree on the slope, it swayed and rustled in the breeze, as if singing cheerfully, thanking the gift of nature.
Cool autumn is finally here, the sky is high, and the air is getting more humid, and I’m happy for the tree on the slope.
At last, it got through the hot summer!
Every year, the dry season is a severe test. This tree may complain about the injustice of fate, why is it me that grows on the slope and not the other trees?
Despite this, the tree has never given up and greets each day of its life happily with a grateful heart.
We are luckier than trees! While we cannot choose where to be born, we can choose where to go. But sometimes we are not smarter than trees.
In addition to complaining about the injustice of fate, we can also be like the tree, accepting fate calmly, but not succumbing to it, let alone giving up efforts.
Thanks for reading! Do you also like to observe nature? Let me know what you think!
PseuPending (Seu) and her hubby celebrated a summer send-off with a Japanese kaiseki dinner. By reading this story, you will not only learn what it means to use the 6 flavors of the season on a traditional 8" square tray, but you will also learn about the special functions of flavors in healthy practice.
Another story, written by William J Spirdione, presents a vivid picture of nature. You will enjoy walking with him and watching the creatures play.
Thanks to Dr. Preeti Singh for the prompt for the first week of October!
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