I imagine a tree in a wide open field. As far as I can see, there is just that singular tree. Then, I think of all the people in my life that I have ever loved, cared for, and admired. My family…ancestors…friends…colleagues…students…runners…coaches…teachers…artists…musicians…writers…philosophers…anyone who inspired me. Those who pushed me, or pulled me along to a better version of myself. And yes, sometimes that push, or that pull, wasn’t pleasant. And I imagine all of these people are a part of that beautiful tree. They are the leaves, the branches, the roots, and the trunk of that tree. The strength, the resilience, and the majesty of that tree is beyond description. But I imagine it. That tree, and the people within it, are there for me any time I need them. I just need to stop, focus, and breathe. I can walk, and I can run, and I can go sit underneath that beautiful tree. I can visit my imaginary tree.
