The Tenacity of Trees: My Tree Tribute

Last week, I marched my PRIDE (homeroom) 7th grade students upstairs to the giant 'BE' mural in the main hallway of our school.  There are over 100 character traits embedded in this mural.  We each (including me and Bettie, our amazing parapro) chose a character trait 'goal' for the year.  We made our own chalk art to hang in our classroom to remind us of our character goals throughout the year.

I chose the character trait of 'tenacity' for several reasons.  First - I have a hard time standing up to people if what I believe is different from what they believe.  I don't always articulate my beliefs even to myself, much less out loud to someone else.  Being tenacious means that when I believe in something, I will stand up for it.  It also means that when I start something, I will finish it just as strongly as I started it.  I tend to start strongly in too many endeavors.  This year, I will choose wisely the few things that deserve my energy, and I will follow through to do my part to make those things happen.

 

So what's the big deal about trees?  Today, I meandered around Chau Ram County Park and Issaqueena Falls with my dog for about 5 miles.  I took my time and really noticed the nature surrounding me - the sights, the sounds, the smells (particularly when Bosco had to stop and....well...) - but mainly the trees.  First of all, they're stunning, no matter what season.  But mainly they epitomize tenacity to me.  I'm always amazed at how trees grow through, around, beneath, above (WHATEVER it takes) the obstacles they 

encounter!  

I'm not sure what obstacle this tree encountered to make it grow in this shape, but whatever it had to overcome to get what it needed to grow - didn't it do so gracefully?

This picture is amazing to me for a couple of reasons.  First - the lone tree in the middle is surrounded by dead-fall, but look closely and you'll see little green leaves shooting out the sides.  It's gonna keep on living.  Second - the picture doesn't capture how much this dead-fall actually looked like a waterfall, only with dead trees.  The picture really doesn't do it justice.  

I can only hope than when I go, I leave something this beautiful behind.

Look what these trees are growing through, and so beautifully! They inspire me!

I think these trees are just showing off, or maybe they're just happy to be alive.

This tree looks downright graceful...

...while this one looks reptilian.

I am in total awe of the tenacity of this tree.  There is NO SOIL...only ROCKS!  This tree is a SURVIVOR!

 The Chau River would not be the same without the trees....

...and neither would this flower without that tree backdrop.

These trees were used to create steps for the path, and have since embraced that role and become one WITH the path.

Probably my favorite lesson from trees is this one: every single leaf makes the tree beautiful in every season, and every tree needs each leaf to make it so.