Rooted in Resilience 

Up by the railway station lies a forest of trees. 

Each one, a metaphor for resilience. 

For if you look inside, 

there lies a history of its life. 

And if you look closely, 

you’ll see what each one has endured. 

Now, you must wonder what you have endured. 

For we are similar to the trees. 

And if you look into your soul, deeply and closely, 

your scars and bruises are a metaphor for resilience 

Each one telling a story of what happened in your life. 

Even the ones on the inside. 

When you discover those aching, burning scars inside, 

You’ll glimpse what you’ve endured. 

Every cut and bruise– every screech for help– every meaningful moment in your life. The times of growth and the times of hardships, like trees. 

Your head up high conveys resilience. 

Sometimes, you don’t have to look that closely. 

So should you choose to not look closely, 

maybe not very deep inside 

you brush against the leaning tree, the winds that couldn't knock down its resilience. The most powerful winds, largest storms, and human will, these trees have endured. You have deep roots and a strong trunk that allows you to sway with the trees, This. This will ensure your survival of some of the largest storms in life. 

We ponder why we must endure these storms in life. 

Don't look too closely. 

For, again, we are as sturdy as trees 

The storms make us stronger and more secure on the inside 

The tree’s bark toughens, the the roots lengthen, thriving in manure as it endures Branches now reach building tops and the roots break concrete, carrying with them resilience. 

And as you gain resilience, 

You’ll be rest assured that you’ll be content with life. 

You’ll stride with such confidence from all that you have endured. 

You’ll look closely–

Deep inside. 

Covered in mites and as birds learn to fly from your forearms, you’ll embrace being the tree. 

Your perseverance is resilience. 

A tree, you are filled with life. 

You don’t have to look too closely or very deep inside.