In her October 11 #ThursdayTreeLove, Parul Thakur wrote about how people are oblivious to the trees they pass every day. She urged readers to “notice things around you and within you. Take nothing for granted. Nothing.”
My work environment is filled with gorgeous trees. I generally pass the same trees during my [almost] daily walk, but I “never, ever, ever” tire of them; there’s always something new or different to note. In fact, yesterday, as I was on my way to a warm spot to meditate and write, I was so distracted by the trees that my writing hour slipped away.
Unlike my tree venture two weeks ago, yesterday the trees provided the therapy I’d planned to find in writing.
Like Parul, when I’m enjoying the trees, I see others passing by with absolutely no awareness of them. Every now and then, they stop, wonder, and ask about what I’m observing or photographing. After a brief conversation, they pause and take note before walking away. I “cross my fingers” and hope they will no longer take the trees for granted.
If we’re not careful, trees will become part of the mundane, ordinary of our day to day, and they are much too beautiful, too knowing, too giving, too spectacular to be ordinary.
I am joining Parul Thakur for #ThursdayTreeLove every second and fourth Thursday of the month. If you would like to play along, post a picture of a tree on your blog and link it back to her latest #treelove post.
Pics and Posts 
Like you, I notice. I notice the trees, the desert grasses, the wild sunflowers in the field. one reason I love your posts, and your cards.
Keep seeing well. 🙂
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I know you see well. As an artist, you’re trained to see and notice and feel. That’s what I love about you and other artists. Thank you for your kind words, friends!
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Yes, we should not take anything for granted – but if we keep wondering about the whole world – would we get things done? Sometimes a little routine is necessary, where you do not pause and wonder about everything. But of course you should not lose your ability to see slight differences, because sometimes those little differences are important tell-tale signs. To come back to trees – a tree that does not grow fresh leaves on one branch, lose pieces of tree bark on the sidewalk when it has become too hot and dry (was the thing here, where we and our trees are not used to such long, hot and dry summers as we had this year) or trees losing their leaves early – all very, very important signs of a change in environment or a change in the tree.
Yes, I know this is not a spiritual approach.
“Pragmatism considers thought as an instrument or tool for prediction, problem solving and action, and rejects the idea that the function of thought is to describe, represent, or mirror reality.”
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Ha! But isn’t it nice to get lost outside of routine? Of course, I’m speaking as a person whose life from August-May is little outside of routine.
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Each at its time.
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I’m so obsessed with your photography 😍
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Awww…thanks Ty!
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I miss those trees and that everyday view. Like you, I don’t take the experience of walking on that campus for granted. It remains a beautiful space in memory.
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The trees miss you too!
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I never managed to love winter–especially when I lived in Minnesota, where it was cold enough to cause pain–but I did learn to love the bare trees at least as much as their leafy summer forms. They’re gorgeous.
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I don’t love winter either, but like you, I love to see the structure of bare trees…Gorgeous indeed!
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I love trees and always notice them. 🙂 Your pictures are so lovely! #ThursdayTreeLove looks interesting. Let me hop over to Parul’s and check!
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Thanks! And yes! You’ll love Tree Love! Hope to see you in the next round. 😉
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Thank you for sharing this ❤ As you already know I'm a huge fan of trees. 😊
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Yes! You should join #ThursdayTreeLove. 🙂
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I just might do that 🙂
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I used to notice trees more when on holiday – taking pictures of them, admiring them….and then when I’d get home I’d be oblivious to them – even though I’d be passing some beautiful trees every day. Now I guess I try to be a bit more ‘in the moment’ and soak up whatever is around me, and appreciate it. There is definitely something quite therapeutic about trees – maybe it’s the fact that they represent deep roots, strength, growth, long life and stature – pride, things us humans can relate to, and long for.
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Gorgeous photos! I am sure the real view must be so many times better.. How can anyone ignore those trees? Superb!!
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It is simply wonderful to be among the trees. Yes, many times better IRL… 🙂
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Those are some beautiful views. I loved the sky too in most of your pictures. I am so glad we are similar in how we think about trees and our surroundings. I also look at the same tree and wonder about different things. Thank you for joining! So grateful that you are a part of the journey.
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Sky and tree make a beautiful team to me–especially when the skies are blue and/or with the puffy, cotton-like clouds.
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Which tree is this? The leaves resemble the Neem tree.
Found your post through Parul’s TTL
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There are at least 3 different trees in the post. Which one are you referring to? The one at top is a maple. I’ll have to wait till the leaves come back to see what the others are. LOL!
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oh! I was referring to the 3rd picture. It is unlikely that you will have a Neem tree in USA!
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But it’s in the same family as some trees in the USA. It does look like that tree. I’ll do a little digging and find out. I’ll know by spring–at the latest. LOL!
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sure! will lok forward to it 🙂
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Lovely pics and well written.
Please check my blog and spread love ❤
https://mesmots1987.wordpress.com/
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