Today as I sat on my balcony looking out to the trees, mountains and river I had a thought. I am just like that tree that stands before me. I am like a big old Alder tree with many far reaching branches covered in leaves of green. I am deeply rooted and have been here for many years. I am surrounded by others, some friends, some family and others colleagues or acquaintances. We all stand here together. We are all the same in a way.

We may look slightly different. Some have more branches, some less, some bright leaves and others shinny. We stand in a glen with others. Without each other we know that we could not survive. We provide life for one another by just being here. We hold each other up in all sorts of weather. We witness one another day after day, year after year.

I have lost many of my leaves over the years. A regular shedding is good for the soul. I must let go of the old that no longer serve me in order to let in the new growth. I have even lost some branches over the years. They have broken off in big wind storms. That can be a very painful process. Sometimes they are ripped completely off and other times, they hang by a few fine threads for quite a while. I think to myself that I will never get that branch back again. It is gone for good, lost forever. What if my life will never be the same again without it? A fear rises up within me. At times in the past that fear could consume me for days. Just like the wind that ruffles my leaves now, the fear comes and then it goes.

The wind blows through me like a regular wave of feelings. It may be anger, hurt, joy, sorrow, thrill or any number of others. As the years pass I realize that they never stay these feelings, this wind and weather. They go as quickly as they come. No warning, no big ceremony. They come and they go.

I continue to stand firmly rooted to my spot. Knowing that I have so much strength within me. I am surrounded by others just like me. It is not always easy to see how alike we are. One must look deep into our trunks, right into the core to discover that. The sameness is hidden but once you see it you can never un-see it again.

We must protect each other. Our seedlings fall and are blown far and wide. They cannot grow to be healthy and strong if we do not protect them just as we do our own young. We must guide them, show them the ways. Others may try to harm them. Dig them up, cut them down, strip their bark. They know not what they do. We must have forgiveness and compassion for within they too are the same as us. They may not see it now but have hope that they will one day.

I will continue to stand strong, grounded, being tussled by the wind and the rain. Some days the sun will shine upon me and I will bask in the warmth and let my leaves shine for all to see. I will provide a home to those who need it and will continue to share what I know to be true.

Essentially we are all the same at our core. We are all in this together. There is hope for our future as we continue to wake up.