🌳 TREE 489: The tree you planted

TREEpeat 41 and 53

The tree you planted

You know the not-Chinese, probably American proverb: The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.

The good news is you did plant the tree 20 years ago.

I’ve been writing this week about taking back things you used to do that were lost or taken away (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday). You planted that tree seed when you were a kid. The tree exists. When you take your thing back, it’s not starting from scratch, it’s more like returning to an orchard that hasn’t been tended. The tree is there waiting for you to give it your time and attention.

When will you do it?

I suggest now. (If you are celebrating Thanksgiving, you’ll probably have a couple hours between the turkey and the pies to take a first little step.)

In TREE 41 I wrote:

Start at the wrong time.

If you want to lose weight and get fit in January, start right now.

Your motivation will be higher now than it will be in January when you are tired from the holidays. If you establish good habits during the holiday season, you’ll have no problem maintaining them in the new year. You’ll enjoy the holidays more because you’re celebrating AND looking after your body. The normal pattern is to celebrate by doing terrible things to your body while trying to ignore the background dread of knowing you’ll start the new year in an even deeper hole. You’ll feel awesome knowing you’re making a powerful change while most everyone around you is doing the same as they always do.

“Start at the wrong time” doesn’t just apply to health and fitness.

And in TREE 53, I gave you this stunning limerick:

There once was a surfer named Dave
who yearned for the perfect wave.
But Dave stayed indoors
away from seashores,
now he waits for that wave in his grave.

Watching bird is watching.

I’ve been on a Poppy thing the last couple days (Spotify).

Grow slowly
Jeff