In the Giant Forest in California’s Sequoia National Park lives the largest tree in the world. Though 1,000 years younger than the oldest, The Sherman Tree surpasses its elders in size due to optimal soil conditions contributed by a number of factors; fire being one. In the forest, fire is the biggest agent of change. A prescribed-fire, otherwise known as a controlled burn, literally brings about growth. It prepares the seedbed, cycles nutrients in the soil, diversifies the age & types of vegetation in the forest, and protects the trees from insect-attacks & disease. For these reasons natural wildfires are protected, and it is policy to let a natural-fire, caused by a lightening strike, to burn.
In the middle of the first month of 2014 we should all take page from nature. As history shows, within the next few months our new year’s determinations begin to breakdown. That resolve to run two miles every day slowly lessons to two blocks. The decline back in to our old habits make us feel like failures; a mentality we’ll carry the rest of the year, reaching its end, and affecting more resolve to be different in 2015. Nature, human nature is cyclical. Change happens two ways; we chose to reinvent ourselves, or circumstances do it for us i.e. lightening strikes. Like the Sequoia trees, change requires that something dies for something to continue to live, & to live better. Rather than mourn the deaths of our meat-free, caffeine-free decisions we should all let die the idea that we have to be perfect, & have to change so that we are. What change should really take place this year is the acceptance that we are how we are & that that is always changing. And with this level of acceptance, will finally come the strength for growth.
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
―Rachel Carson, Silent Spring
So set fire to the things that keep you small & have a happy 2014.