Rooted: The Earth Beneath Our Change

A tree's beauty lies in its branches, but its strength lies in its roots. – Matshona Dhliwayo

A tree can symbolize many things — growth, resilience, and the ever-changing rhythm of life itself. A tree grows strong and sturdy only when its roots are deeply grounded in the earth beneath it. Over time, those roots stretch outward, creating a ripple effect that touches and strengthens the world around them. It grows. It begins small — fragile even — but as time passes, the base thickens, the trunk steadies, and new branches reach toward the light. Each branch is an extension of energy — a reflection of who we are as human beings, and of the universe itself.

As life too passes with us, we are much like the tree. We grow. We evolve. We adapt. Each experience becomes a new branch, each challenge another ring within our trunk. Sometimes, our branches tremble. They bend beneath the storm. We face heat, cold, and uncertainty. Yet as the seasons shift, so do we. Parts of us fall away, but each year, something new takes root and begins again. Pieces of us are regrown.

Sometimes one may feel uncertain— about who we are or the path we’re walking. Our interests may shift as we do, our vision may blur and the once crystal clear vision of ourselves, who we were, or who we wanted to be, may change alongside this. The person we once saw so clearly may begin to fade. This does not mean one has failed; it merely means that we have lived, trekked, wondered, and changed. Our path may have cracked, shifted, or moved beneath us.

Although at times, these new pieces of us may cause uncertainty- on the latter it is actually an invitation — a call to return to our roots. When we reground ourselves, reconnect with our essence, and realign with what truly matters, we create space for clarity to emerge, and allow ourselves a chance to re-find ourselves again. Even if our destination remains unknown, pursuing the things that bring us joy — the hobbies that spark curiosity, the people who make us feel alive, the environments that nurture our soul — opens a new plane of existence we may never have noticed before.

"Not all those who wander are lost —but if we feel lost, sometimes we must face this, to become found.”

Sometimes, losing ourselves is the only way to truly discover what’s been missing, it may be that key to understanding what may have been lacking entirely. Our priorities may shift, and though the scrapes and scars along the way may sting, they serve as guiding lights — reminders of where we’ve been and what we’ve learned. Each experience carries a lesson, even if it isn’t immediately clear. Take time to pause and reflect: How did that moment shape you? What emotions surfaced? Did you grow, or did you repeat the same cycles?

Even unseen, growth is happening. The lessons are there, whispering beneath the surface. Sometimes we may not be aware of the lessons that we absorbed, but I can assure you they are there.

These experiences — these roots — are what allow us to expand, to grow. They give rise to new branches, new opportunities, new seasons of becoming. Every choice to nourish yourself becomes sunlight for your spirit. At time passes, you have these opportunities, these shifts in awareness, that give you a chance to take what was learned and utilize them. IF you choose to ignore them, and walk down the darkened path, you fail to nourish your tree. You fail to give what it needs, what you need to thrive. Neglect, can wither your growth. A tree deprived of care cannot thrive- It becomes deprived, of what it truly needs to grow stronger.

In life, there must be a balance. If you are always giving to others, sacrificing parts of yourself to walk a path, and trek a journey that doesn’t benefit you. Are you truly living? When you are always pouring into others while neglecting yourself, your roots begin to dry. You cannot flourish on an empty cup. Your cup also needs to be filled. You can push through for a while, drawing from reserves, but eventually, exhaustion sets in, burn out overtakes you, and life seems to falter. Those branches break, that foundation waivers.

You see, in life, we must be able to walk through rocky plains, lose ourselves in unfamiliar terrains, in ourselves, in order to come out stronger. Only then, when we accept, we hope, we believe, then do we emerge victorious, stronger, wiser, and more deeply grounded. To nourish the seed within you is to give yourself permission to grow in new directions. Your roots may anchor you to one place, but it is your choice how your branches stretch and bloom.

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." - Maya Angelou

You decide whether to nurture your tree or let it fade. A tree may still stand without care, but it will not thrive; its beauty dulls, its foundation weakens, and the vision of what it could have been remains blurred. To realign with your true essence, you must choose to grow with intention — to follow the path your spirit longs to wander.

Find where your priorities lie and begin there.

Now is the only time promised to you. So, take advantage of it while it is here. Laugh deeply. Cry freely. Rage if you must and then smile again. Embrace every fleeting moment. Nourish it — and watch your dreams take flight. Soar. Grow, and allow yourself to blossom.