I saw this beautiful crooked tree hanging over the edge of the land, leaning into the light, branches reaching out over the water. I looked at the other trees around it, taller ones blocking some of the sunlight on one side, the wild plants around the bottom that I'm sure have various relationships to the health of the tree and each other. I took a photo, but with all the other plants around, it didn't give me the perspective I felt I needed, so I decided to draw it.
As I worked on the details and shading, darkening the sketch lines and watching the tree take shape, I consciously had the thought that the tree was thriving by leaning into its own needs. It's not a new thought. There's a meme or quote (or both) about how we don't judge trees for growing however they need to, so why do we judge ourselves and each other for growing and adapting to our challenges as needed?
But this time, I wasn't focused on judging the tree, I was learning from the tree. That tree doesn't care what the ones around it look like or think of it. It recognizes the things that make it feel good, and it leans toward them. And then the question hit me like a brick or five. I spent nearly an hour journaling after I finished this drawing, this unexpected introspective journal prompt.
So here's your chance. What are you leaning into?