The Best Time To Plant A Tree

"The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now."

I spent a good number of years killing my own personal growth and momentum simply by not staying planted in one place long enough for opportunity to find me. I felt more comfortable making sudden changes when I would become uncomfortable with my daily life. That would apply to my job, relationships and even the city I was living in. It just felt good to pull up my roots, transplant somewhere else and make a new go of it.

I have learned since then that it is far better to allow my life to take root right where I am planted. The past seven years have offered me some of the greatest opportunities for growth in my family, my career path and in my vital friendships. I am a better person now for toughing out the uncomfortable times living in Seattle. By better I mean feeling stronger, more confident and much more content with my life. I still have big plans and gigantic schemes for grand success as I plow forward. I have not lost my drive or allowed myself to just settle in or become complacent. I am working on writing my first of many books and launching an amazing new website for people and their pets. Grand schemes they are. 

The difference now is that I'm launching all of my dreams and varied schemes from a foundation of strength, committed love and a balanced stance with both feet firmly planted. My roots are deep and my branches strong. I have more than one stream that brings me watering and nourishment. I am no longer a man with nothing to lose. This was a deliberate choice on my part. I have chosen to battle past those strong desires to pull up my roots and run. It is only now in hindsight that I can realize the value of my choices. I must tell you that I still have to fight those urges to self destruct and run on a regular basis. These days I have made peace with that part of my life. I no longer pour energy into doing tug of war with my soul. I have learned to accept wanting to run as a personal flaw not allowing it to rule my world. That again is a choice, one that I have to make often. It's good  to understand the difference between running and the right time for change in your life.

Are you feeling that overwhelming desire to start your life over again somewhere else? Are you wanting to pull up your roots and run? Consider the tree that is planted by the river, offering shelter for the birds of the air and shade to those who need a place to rest. Consider how that tree has flourished and stands strong. I encourage you today to consider why you're feeling that familiar desire to run. What's making you so uncomfortable? Take time today to examine your roots, they may be deeper than you realize. The quality of your life depends on it.

“I have always argued that change becomes stressful and overwhelming only when you've lost any sense of the constancy of your life. You need firm ground to stand on. From there, you can deal with that change.”  Richard Nelson Bolles

Read "10 Life Lessons from the Princess Bride"

Comments

[Adam OK]

Really deep stuff.
I can tell you that it gets harder as you get older.

[Scott]

Great post, man, extremely relevant (for me at least).

[Author Mom DogNut]

And one has to be on the alert for the other side of the coin-- someone who is so afraid of change that they settle and make excuses in the settling.

Balance and knowing the difference, I believe, is the key.

[Polli]

I keep re-reading this one. :-) Thank you for submitting it to my carnival.

[Tara]

Oh my gosh!!!
That is what I just realized about myself, not so long ago. You definitely have to learn to slow down, accomplish one thing at a time. But at the same, don't give up on your dreams. Thanks for the reminder.
Love ya!