Cyclones (hurricanes)!
I have been through a fair share of cyclones. One would think that that gives a sense of familiarity to it all. But this year, the cyclone is way too severe - strong gusts, heavy rain, swelling ocean waves and overflowing rivers.
It also feels different this time. I don't know whether it's due to the melancholy surrounding the never-ending lockdowns or the gloom of watching thousands die of the Chinese Flu pandemic, the mind sits heavy with ponderance. Dejection often makes a philosopher out of a poet…
Now, in the place where I live, there exists many trees in our neighbourhood, adorning our private gardens and public roads. One particular large Neem tree was around the corner where my street meets the large main road. That giant one was there ever since I could remember, always standing firm and stately, and oblivious to the small tea shop running under its shade or the numerous vehicles moving around.
Last evening, the storm was particularly violent, strong chaffs of wind had broken through the cocoon of my house and shattered the glass of one of the kitchen windows. I tried to keep a calm mind. This too shall pass, I had thought to myself.
But today morning, as I ventured out to assess the damage around my house, something broke my resolve. A big vacancy overtook the skyline, and also my heart. That mighty Neem tree was lying horizontal in the middle of the road; its roots, the size of a small house, yanked up from its foundation; its broad branches occupying the entire field on the other side of the road.
It felt like I had lost a guardian spirit.
I went up to it, gently caressed my palm over the rough bark of its trunk, and smelled the deep bitter fragrance of its leaves for one last time, as the authorities would soon come and begin to chop it apart to open the road blockage.
(Stock Google photo above.)
Suddenly, I looked up and around, and in that state of overflowing emotions, I noticed things I used to only ignore earlier: many many other trees were also uprooted, such as...
- Small garden trees
- Tall and thin trees, like Coconut or Palm trees
- Trees lining the street pavements
- Decorative trees whose trunks were surrounded with cemented sitting platforms
- Trees on loose soil
- Isolated trees
So what did I learn from all this?
1.) Grow deep roots.
When hard times strike, all the shallow vegetation gets blown away. A cyclone is not just an indomitable force of nature. It is also a moment of truth. A time when you are forced to face your worst fear. The well-prepared are left standing, while the happy-go-lucky ones learn that 'luck' is never a good enough protection.
Develop habits you are missing, read up on things you don't know, do the boring dredge work that is unrewarding, meet people you have ignored, save money for the rainy days, think deeply about things until your head hurts...
Sure, the world might move ahead and leave you behind, people you know become more superficially successful without putting half the work, they know someone 'influential', they got the hottest stock tips, they know other shortcuts you've avoided. They have grown their 'shoot' (outermost visible part of the tree) faster than you, but they have not bothered to develop their 'root' (the undergrowth not visible to the world). When the inevitable storm comes, these are the people who are left with financial defaults, health problems, court cases, and general ruin.
On the contrary, people who take the slow and right path, who are diligent, ethical, and hardworking, appear boring and foolish to society. They are growing their roots to prepare to become a giant one day. But people can't see that; they only judge what is in front of them – a lacklustre 'shoot'. But give it time, and the 'wasted' shoot that everyone ignored and ridiculed will weather the heaviest of storms to stand tall when everyone else have been wiped out.
2.) It is necessary that during the process of growing your root, you appear a bit stingy with your time and resources to other people (but only a bit). If you are constantly serving others out of a noble and helpful attitude, people will see YOU as a shortcut or ladder to advance themselves and leave you in the dust. A tree should be known for its beautiful flowers, elegant foliage and sweet fruits, sure... but try to avoid going out of your way to help those who can help themselves. (I was guilty of this during my initial days as an entrepreneur.) Focus on your goals and your 'education' – you need to devote exclusive time to yourself.
3.) Once you have achieved good depth, it is now time to develop your 'shoot', scale up, and the show the world who you are. Bear good fruits, give weary people shade under your leaves, and give shelter to birds over your branches. This is where you give up your stinginess and jettison that 'scarcity mindset', for now you can afford to be generous. The one who gives is the one who is given power. Remember, isolated trees are more vulnerable to being uprooted, so allow your seeds to disperse and germinate all around you. Now, storms can shake you, but not break you. You have finally survived the worst and made it in the long journey of life.
4.) Now, coming back to real trees, please allow trees the space to grow their roots under the soil. The larger the tree is likely to become, the larger the area and depth below the soil it is expected to take, in order to develop strong roots. The stronger its roots, the more resistant it will be to storms and premature crashes.
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Trees along motor highways are strategically planted to arrest soil erosion during floods. But in urban areas, trees are often planted in recesses on pedestrian pavements for allegedly decorative purposes only. The roots of these urban trees do not get the full freedom to grow, as they are cloistered in by the road and pavement construction. Naturally, during a cyclone, these are the first to lose their balance and fall down, on roads, on cars, on people... causing blockages, nuisance and loss of lives. You can see from such uprooted trees how 'narrow' their root portion looks compared to their large visible outgrowth.
Give trees their room.
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As I finish, I'll leave this piece of music in memory of my giant guardian friend who I lost.
Thank you for your kindness.
(All images are from Google.)
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