climbing

When scaling a tree, the first branch may sometimes be hard to reach. At times the simple reaching up just isn't enough. The initial height one must overcome may require the help of a simple machine or perhaps the aid of another individual. Overcoming the distance builds confidence for the rest of the journey. Once that first trunk is passed, the options increase and the expedition becomes more of a exercise in choice rather than an obstacle. Which branch will be the most fun or challenging to climb? Do I even want to climb today, or do I have more to do at this particular juncture? One may be a place to stop for rest. Another very well could be a leap away. As the tree becomes one’s personal space of freedom, reaching out to the farthest leaves may be a goal, but not a necessity. One feels at home amidst the grooves of the bark. The smell of wet leaves resonates with the organic creature within. The sound of a cool wind rustling and shaking branches, peaceful – not terrifying. One’s movement becomes integrated into the tree, a outgrowth of the tree’s essential nature.

The hardest part of tree escalation may very well be that first branch.