Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Switching Trees

 "it's an ill wind that blows nobody good"


I've always prided myself on having loyalty and integrity.  It seems lately, though, I've really had to reconsider exactly what loyalty means to me. 

Being loyal to my family, my friends and my place of employment are codes of conduct I've embraced all my life.  Lately it has been dawning on my that perhaps I've been leaving out a very important part of the equation:  Loyalty to myself, my own inner promptings.

As I've been mulling over a situation in my life of late I have really made me aware of the contradictions in my belief system.  I was being challenged whether I was going to go with the conditioning of the tribe or the urgings of my heart - loyalty to the tribe or try something different.

Quite appropriately we've had a huge windstorm here a couple of days ago and it seemed my inner turmoil was matched only by the outer turmoil, and when the wind finally settled the answer came, as it usually does, from the World, through my Lens.


 Palm Springs Library taking a hit.

I drove around the neighbourhood, being re-routed on several occasions, noticing all those beautiful trees that had been blown down by the 70mph winds. Strong, robust, seemingly invincible eucalyptus, the aromatic pines and the luxurious English evergreens laying on their sides a-waiting the chainsaws.  The tall slender palms, however, had swayed their way through the worst of the winds and were still standing.

There was my answer.  I can stand strong and rigid in the face of adversity, like I've always done, and risk getting face planted like those trees, or try something different.  How about I stay grounded and be flexible to the breezes of life just like those palms?


Linking to:
ABC Wednesday - 'B' is for Blow, Breeze, Beautiful
 Nature Notes

12 comments:

Dhemz said...

oh,my! I hate windy weather...great choice! thanks for dropping by!

Roger Owen Green said...

oh, it's so easy to forget yourself in the mix. glad you recognized that. good luck.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Barbara said...

Loyalty to oneself is very important, what a way for you to be made aware, great photos of the blowing wind and its results.

Chubskulit Rose said...

Oh no, that's a lot of blown trees.

Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

photowannabe said...

Swaying with the wind is a good way to be. Trust your inner promptings.

Luna Miranda said...

i'd say, be like the palm or a bamboo. sway with the breezes but hold on to your roots.:p

Annie said...

I love this post. What a great lesson. I want to be more like a palm too.

??? said...

Flexibility lends greater strength in the long run.
A pity about all those trees, but a chance for new trees to grow.

Rambling Woods said...

I consider myself a very loyal person, but I hadn't thought about being loyal to myself...This is a wonderfully thoughtful post Barb...

EG CameraGirl said...

I hate to see so much wind damage! Yes, it's good advice to remain flexible.

Mary said...

Good thoughts and great photos ~ thanks for sharing...

An English Shepherd said...

Looks like one big windstorm!