wrinkles re-visited

You may remember this lovely photo of the wrinkly tree on the way up to Aira Force (easy to access waterfall near the shore of Ullswater in the Lake District). It made me think of how it is inevitable that we age and that this can mean wrinkles which can also hint at wisdom and experience if we let it be that way.

Today I saw the tree in a different light and, though that means the picture doesn't work very well, I was reminded of how we let go of concerns and change our focus as we grow and evolve. The tree only has branches at the very top which are only visible from the air or by craning one's neck. The lower branches have been shed by the tree as it matured.

If we could so easily let go of the events and emotions that have accompanied us to where we are today we would be lighter and more able to turn our faces to the sun (and the rain) and live in the moment whatever it brings. Our tendency to hang on to the past makes us heavier and cumbersome and less able to respond to todays opportunities with freshness and a new approach. We might need a helping hand to off load some of our baggage. Once we know that it is only old stuff that we don't need to carry any more it gets easier to let it go.

Tomorrow I will visit a tree that bares all.