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Abstract

jor branches that take up the skeleton of a tree. They are like our major lines of thought that define us and lead our actions.’ When we arrived at the garden, he wanted me to follow him as he assessed a tree, looking through the branches carefully.‘However, some branches show signs of damage or disease. We need to remove these damaged or diseased branches because they are of no use and might even harm the tree.’ He stopped and asked me to move closer and look at a branch on the tree. A section of the branch looked a bit thicker than the other parts with some spots on it.‘Some branches like this are diseased while still taking water and nutrients from the tree.’ Cutting off the branch with a single move, he said, ‘When we remove them, we actually stop the cycle of harm, and then water and nutrients get redistributed to healthy branches.’‘And look here.’, pointing to an area of the tree that was thick with branches, ‘We need to remove branches that are cross, somehow opening the tree so that air will circulate better and light will reach all parts of the plant’. He took the scissors and cut off some branches.‘To grow healthy, trees need good air circulation through and around the branches.’ He continued. ‘Branches that are close together foster the growth of fungus and attract insects.’ ‘We cut off branches that cause harm to the tree and open it to potential fungus and insect infestation.’For the next 40 minutes or so, he walked through the garden, moving from a tree to another, doing some pruning and trimming. I was surely learning a lot about gardening and pruning. He even asked me to try cutting off some diseased and damaged branches, which I liked so much.‘Well, then. Time to take a coffee break.’ My grandpa said, and I knew what to do. I got his coffee ready, waiting for him to start talking about the pruning experience. He drank his coffee and started the lesson.‘Every day, through our experiences and encounters with others, we tend to develop some lines of thinking — just like trees that develop branches. We form opinions about those we encounter; we may get mad at them, think negatively of their behavior, suspect them, judge them, hate them, or be unkind to them.’ I could follow what he was talking about.‘These negative thoughts and opinions are like diseased branches on the trees. They sap our

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energy and are harmful to us. They are like fungi and insects that eat our peace away, leaving us weak and vulnerable. We need to cut them off before they hurt us,’ he said.‘Think about what we did today, son. We spent a few moments looking at each tree, identified diseased and damaged branches, removed them to allow for the air to circulate around them and light reach all parts of the tree. We trimmed the trees and cut off those branches that stuck out at odd angles and let the trees look neat and beautiful.’ I pictured the whole experience and said, ‘Yeah, grandpa. They are healthy and beautiful now.’ ‘Sure, they are, he reacted.‘Now, try to assess your thoughts every night before you go to bed. Take a few moments to look back at your day, explore your thoughts, remove any line of thought that has to do with anger, hatred, disappointment, guilt, betrayal, dishonesty, and suspicion. Cut them off and let the air of forgiveness circulate in your mind and the light of happiness reach all your cells. And remove the opinions that stand in contrast to your principles and make you feel ugly inside.’‘A few cuts in the dormant season will help trees grow healthy, yielding bigger and more delicious fruits at the harvest. Similarly, pruning your thoughts every night helps you grow mentally healthy. You will sleep better at night and experience a wonderful day tomorrow.’‘We all need to prune our thoughts and eliminate branches of bad feelings that are growing inward toward our hearts. We need to remove the thoughts that cause clutter inside us, making us feel heavy, awkward, and diseased. And we need to do it every single night before the fungi and infestation get to our roots.’That’s what I’ve been doing almost every night for the last 30 years of my life. I simply spend a few moments exploring my thoughts, deleting some files of stress and pain, forgiving those who have hurt me, and above all, forgiving myself for the mistakes I’ve made. In case I’ve hurt others, I either text them before I go to bed or call them in the morning to apologize for my behavior and simply ask them to forgive me.Yes, I prune my thoughts long before the harm is done since I want to be a healthy, neat tree that yields juicy, delicious fruits of love and compassion. May God rest my grandpa’s soul in eternal peace.</article></body>

Prune Your Thoughts

‘Today, I’m going to teach you something that will make you a different man,’ My grandfather said one day. ‘Let’s go, son.’

I vividly remember him, my maternal grandpa. He was a tall, handsome man, robust and healthy, a witty, fun person to be with, someone you would definitely enjoy spending time with for hours without feeling bored. He always had a smiling face that would attract everyone, and he was quite well-known in the neighborhood. When he was out on the street, it was like everyone was in a race to be the first to step away, take off their hats, say hello and make way for him to pass.

As a 10-year old, I loved to accompany him almost everywhere he went, feeling justly proud because I had the privilege of walking with a man of great wisdom, integrity, and influence. I felt even prouder when he introduced me to others.

‘My grandson, Allen. He’s my root. He’s going to make a magnificent prolific tree someday.’ He would say about me most of the time. He was a landowner and a farmer, owning two gorgeous fruit orchards.

My grandfather would take any moment to teach me something to help me grow healthier and more attractive on the inside. As a dedicated farmer, he had established a sacred relationship with his plants in a way that one thought he was living with them for real.

One day in the late fall, 1990, he took out his pruning tools — scissors, shears, and saws — and asked me to join him, saying, ‘Time to prune and trim the trees. Today, I’m going to teach you something that will make you into a different man. Let’s go, son.’

‘Yes, sir. I’m ready for another lesson.’ I told him, putting on my boots in the blink of an eye, taking his toolbox from him.

It was a beautiful day with a blue sky and a gentle breeze. On our way to his apple garden, he told me all about pruning and the reasons why pruning was necessary for the trees.

‘Pruning helps trees grow strong and healthy,’ he started. ‘Some branches are major branches that take up the skeleton of a tree. They are like our major lines of thought that define us and lead our actions.’ When we arrived at the garden, he wanted me to follow him as he assessed a tree, looking through the branches carefully.

‘However, some branches show signs of damage or disease. We need to remove these damaged or diseased branches because they are of no use and might even harm the tree.’ He stopped and asked me to move closer and look at a branch on the tree. A section of the branch looked a bit thicker than the other parts with some spots on it.

‘Some branches like this are diseased while still taking water and nutrients from the tree.’ Cutting off the branch with a single move, he said, ‘When we remove them, we actually stop the cycle of harm, and then water and nutrients get redistributed to healthy branches.’

‘And look here.’, pointing to an area of the tree that was thick with branches, ‘We need to remove branches that are cross, somehow opening the tree so that air will circulate better and light will reach all parts of the plant’. He took the scissors and cut off some branches.

‘To grow healthy, trees need good air circulation through and around the branches.’ He continued. ‘Branches that are close together foster the growth of fungus and attract insects.’ ‘We cut off branches that cause harm to the tree and open it to potential fungus and insect infestation.’

For the next 40 minutes or so, he walked through the garden, moving from a tree to another, doing some pruning and trimming. I was surely learning a lot about gardening and pruning. He even asked me to try cutting off some diseased and damaged branches, which I liked so much.

‘Well, then. Time to take a coffee break.’ My grandpa said, and I knew what to do. I got his coffee ready, waiting for him to start talking about the pruning experience. He drank his coffee and started the lesson.

‘Every day, through our experiences and encounters with others, we tend to develop some lines of thinking — just like trees that develop branches. We form opinions about those we encounter; we may get mad at them, think negatively of their behavior, suspect them, judge them, hate them, or be unkind to them.’ I could follow what he was talking about.

‘These negative thoughts and opinions are like diseased branches on the trees. They sap our energy and are harmful to us. They are like fungi and insects that eat our peace away, leaving us weak and vulnerable. We need to cut them off before they hurt us,’ he said.

‘Think about what we did today, son. We spent a few moments looking at each tree, identified diseased and damaged branches, removed them to allow for the air to circulate around them and light reach all parts of the tree. We trimmed the trees and cut off those branches that stuck out at odd angles and let the trees look neat and beautiful.’ I pictured the whole experience and said, ‘Yeah, grandpa. They are healthy and beautiful now.’ ‘Sure, they are, he reacted.

‘Now, try to assess your thoughts every night before you go to bed. Take a few moments to look back at your day, explore your thoughts, remove any line of thought that has to do with anger, hatred, disappointment, guilt, betrayal, dishonesty, and suspicion. Cut them off and let the air of forgiveness circulate in your mind and the light of happiness reach all your cells. And remove the opinions that stand in contrast to your principles and make you feel ugly inside.’

‘A few cuts in the dormant season will help trees grow healthy, yielding bigger and more delicious fruits at the harvest. Similarly, pruning your thoughts every night helps you grow mentally healthy. You will sleep better at night and experience a wonderful day tomorrow.’

‘We all need to prune our thoughts and eliminate branches of bad feelings that are growing inward toward our hearts. We need to remove the thoughts that cause clutter inside us, making us feel heavy, awkward, and diseased. And we need to do it every single night before the fungi and infestation get to our roots.’

That’s what I’ve been doing almost every night for the last 30 years of my life. I simply spend a few moments exploring my thoughts, deleting some files of stress and pain, forgiving those who have hurt me, and above all, forgiving myself for the mistakes I’ve made. In case I’ve hurt others, I either text them before I go to bed or call them in the morning to apologize for my behavior and simply ask them to forgive me.

Yes, I prune my thoughts long before the harm is done since I want to be a healthy, neat tree that yields juicy, delicious fruits of love and compassion. May God rest my grandpa’s soul in eternal peace.