Life

WRITING #3

When you know everything, you are practically immortal; when you know nothing, there is no existence. Life in general, teaches us how to survive. If something is wrong with our being, survival requires tending from others. Does this go towards all living things? We all know the saying, "The strong survive, the weak die." When I look at the picture above, I think of my life and the handfuls of shit that life has thrown my direction. I feel as though this tree represents all things about me (and others) and it makes me realize that everyone has problems, how you handle them represents who you are. I see life when I see this tree and where it begins for both human and tree life, is birth.

Conception of a human lifeform begins with a fertilized egg within a woman's uterus. We are as a seed beneath the earth protected from all outside dangers. Though we are protected, we still are affected by our outside host. Weather complications as well as pregnancy complications are outside complications and what goes on outside, helps/hurts the inside. As we grow older, our bones (branches) grow larger, taller and stronger. We are more likely to survive during harsh conditions. The older we get, the more independent we become and along with age comes knowledge. When I gaze upon this tree, I perceive knowledge and knowledge is also vital to survival hence that saying once again, "The strong survive, the weak die." Strength is having both brain and brawn and I would like to think I obtain a little bit of both.

Everything we learn gives us a new branch to explore and learn from. We find that with each branch comes a new lesson about what not to do again or where the best position is to absorb sunlight. We are given so many options but only a few we take just as which direction a branch chooses to grow is a vast limitation where all options can not be occupied. The more we learn, the stronger we become and the more independent and able to protect ourselves we become. Where trees grow flowers and fruits, people grow a better understanding of concepts and ideas. Life tends to be pretty cruel at times and certain experiences we endure, mold and shape the foundation of who we are and what we will become. Life can sometimes send things our way that leave us twisted and knotted and it seems that we have no symmetry. One shoulder always seems heavier than the other and we tend to feel a little less wind resistant. Sometimes, the wind just hits a little too hard and we all end up losing a couple branches but as long as we still survive, we've done exactly that, survive. In order to survive, we must live and with life comes death. Death is something I, as well as many others, do not like to think about but we all know it is bound to happen. Everything that lives, must die.

Like a tree, we all have a beginning, a middle and an end. Although the whole process may differ in various aspects, when you really look at the picture from a metaphoric view, humans and trees have quite a bit in common. As a tree ages, it loses a few branches here and there and when death is approaching, leaves are no longer produced. As people age, we tend to forget certain things we used to know thus causing a few of our branches to dilapidate and fall to the ground and as death calls, we can no longer comprehend new ideas or form them for the matter. Our flowers curl up and die and we are left with an empty lifeless branch. While both human and tree life end, that's not to say we do not leave something behind.

Both humans and trees have roots that lie deep down below the surface and whether the purpose for our existence consists of offering shade on a sunny day or helping a friend change a tire, our existence leaves an imprint deep down below the surface. At least one person or one thing will benefit from our existence and both human and tree life is important. Whether life hands us a a bouquet of flowers or a heaping pile of pain, we must learn to take things one branch at a time and no matter how we choose to respond to life, we leave that mark behind and with that mark comes the world's perception of who we are and were and that is why I love this image. It makes me want to be the best person I know how to be.