The Story behind the Resting Tree
Written by Celeste Cai
Sitting by the window, I was having a quiet moment to myself. My head was still spinning from thinking about my to-do list for the week. As I began to redirect my attention to my surroundings, my eyes were drawn to the trees as their remaining leaves were blown away by the wind. A sense of dread came over me as I thought to myself, "Sigh, when is winter going to end?"
I continued staring at one particular tree, imagining how it might appear come Spring, Summer and Fall. As I beheld its beauty in my mind, I started reflecting upon the amazing qualities of the tree. Although it was cold outside, the tree remained sturdy despite its bare crown and dead appearance. Yet I knew that what I saw then was not the whole story. Somewhere deep within the tree of winter, there was still life. It didn't look like it because the tree had entered into a dormant state, which was actually a resting state to protect itself from winter cold and drought. Without resting, the tree would not survive, let alone be as impressive and giving in the coming seasons.
The Resting Tree at my old backyard in early Spring
In today's age, we are becoming more optimised with our time and resources with the help of technology and information. At the same time, we desire to reach our career and personal goals — striving harder to achieve happiness and purpose in what we do. We want to bear fruits and flowers, and give lumber and shade; we want to present our best selves to others all the time. Yet we often forget that an accomplished life also means that we need to rest and be rested - not just physically, but emotionally, mentally and spiritually as well.
It is common for us to know what it means to rest when we feel tired. We take a nap, have our favourite snack, soak in a hot bath or indulge in a luxurious vacation. Unfortunately, sometimes we struggle to feel rested even after a seemingly relaxing self-care routine. Thus when we are back to the grind, we feel easily wound up again. Stress, frustration and anxiety creep in. Why? Or perhaps a better question is, how rested is your mental health?
“The state of being rested, or “restedness” is defined as being at peace. What goes on inside of us is like the roots of the tree. Trees grow deep roots in order to be strong and produce beauty. We are rested when we are assured that regardless of the changing seasons, our roots are still firm and safe in the ground. We are able to accept the fact that in life, there is a time for everything - a time to flourish, a time to let go, a time to rejoice and a time to cry. Instead of having constant a flurry of activities, we are not afraid to face winter and take time to be still. When we are rested, we are curious about what the winter may teach us, and patiently wait for spring to come; because we have faith in who we are and what we can offer to the world around us.”
As I reflected on the resting tree , I felt inspired - winter still wasn’t my favourite season, but I certainly grew to appreciate it more.
