Posts Tagged ‘nature’

What doesn’t kill you makes you strong

Wednesday, November 6th, 2013

I was out walking last weekend and I came across these three trees which had all somehow found a way to go on thriving despite all Nature had thrown at them.  The first was twisted and broken by a storm and resumed its vertical growth, the second had been left with a fraction of its trunk and yet was still growing and the final one found it could root in the soil and roots of another tree that had been blown down.  It seems amazing to me that Nature is so resilient and its creations seem to know how to grow despite all that is done to them.

If people, or businesses, are allowed to learn from their mistakes and misfortunes they can go on to be successful.  In fact there is a saying that if you have never failed, then you simply haven’t been trying hard enough.  Most successful businessmen fail a few times before they perfect their offerings.  The difference between those who thrive and those who wither away is that some learn and give it another go.  When coaching people, it is important to ask them what hey have learnt from their experience rather than just judge it.

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Winter Seeds

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

At this time of year the earth nurtures the seeds that were formed in the autumn.  They sit there waiting for their time to come; when the soil warms up and Nature tells them that it is time to begin.  These tiny packages of potential were created full of purpose and only wait their opportunity to grow and  express these plans. 

We also make plans.  The bookshops are full of books telling that all we have to do is either plan and follow some American business gurus 5 step plan to wealth or sit and  visualise and it all comes to pass.  My experience tells me that neither works like that.  To me it feels much more like the seeds.  We conceive an idea, we move on it, and then at some point when we have done all we can we have to wait for it to grow and manifest.  Most of our plans have some areas beyond our control and here we too a wise to let them go as the trees do, distribute them and wait…

“Find the seed at the bottom of your heart and bring forth a flower.”    Shigenori Kameoka

“Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed.  Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.”     Henry David Thoreau

 

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I COULD give a hoot!

Sunday, April 13th, 2008

Last night as I was going to bed, I heard a tawny owl1, and it was quite special. It was so perfect, so straight out of a movie sound track and yet, it was so real too. I can’t explain or rationalise my feelings, but I felt privileged to be there and hearing it. I thought about it some more and remembered that each time I step outside my house, or go to a particular wood that I love, and I am inundated with birdsong, I feel my spirit lighten and soar. The interesting thing is I never notice when it is absent, but I am always struck by its presence, every single time.

I have little clever to say about these simple and natural phenomena, other than to note my almost physical response to them; they lift me and make the world feel a better place. If you are not lucky enough to regularly experience this feeling and are feeling a little low or de-energised today, consider stopping all the ‘stuff’ you are doing and take yourself outdoors and reconnect with Nature.

When you come back, you will be in a better place to reconnect with the rest of mankind too, your problems will seem smaller, you’ll feel healthier and you will be more resourceful.

“When thou seest an eagle, thou seest a portion of genius; lift up
thy head!” Blake, William

Resources:

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