The trunk of a Palm is fascinating when the wind whirls in double digits. I got out of bed several times to marvel. It bends like a Reed Pose on 2.5X speed. On a typical day, the Palm appears as if it would snap like a dried spaghetti noodle when confronted with powerful winds, but last night it was fully prepared. From nature we learn. This morning the trees sway gently while the lower plants are still a bit frantic. The sway is calming. I imagine the trees are being playful, yet careful, muttering “don’t worry owl box, I’ve got ya”. I’m reading Richard Power’s, The Overstory, so I’m particularly tapped into the possible emotions of trees after a long night of intense exercise and fierce responsibility. They exhibit a resilience, a strength and a determination that I admire. I wonder if they have muscle memory? I wonder if their muscles are sore today, especially the roots? They worked extra hard last night literally holding ground. From nature we learn.
Last night was an analogy to life right now as it whirls from all directions, sometimes fiercely, sometimes gently, but often with little pauses in between to gain perspective. It’s these moments, these pauses that sustain me. We are part of a larger story and I understand that, but the wind does still swirl and we do still grapple with anchoring. We can’t run away. We need to hold ground, like the trees.
So perhaps it’s back to the present, taking one moment, one hour, one day, one year at a time and finding the joy within. No small task these days, I know. I try to identify with it when it happens: that feeling when I hear my friend has become a grandparent, or the relief I feel when my friend’s parent is recovering from a serious illness, or the pride I feel when my friend’s book gets published after ten years of commitment, or the warmth I feel when I hear the voices of my children on the phone, or the connection I feel when we embrace to commemorate 31 years of marriage.
Mudita or Sympathetic Joy, makes a short list of qualities used to rest in a balanced, tranquil, joyful mind. In Buddhism, this list is called The Bramaviharas. Sympathetic Joy is when one can authentically feel someone else’s joy. This provides me comfort. It makes me feel that when my joy is running low, I can tap into someone else’s to refuel. “Throw me a lifeline won’t you please?” sings Seal. More importantly, is the realization that my joy can refuel others. We can share joy and refuel each other’s joy tanks. Does that make you as happy as it does me?
When I look out the window now, the big Oak Tree, the one with the owl box, and many of its neighbors: the Japanese Maples, the Locust, the Redwood, the Bays, the Plums and the Palm are all nearly still. They look rested, yet boastful like they’ve succeeded yet again. I imagine they are feeling joyful. That makes me joyful.