Finding Clarity
Why the Sequoia?
I guess I should explain why the Sequoia
Tree...
My
own journey of finding clarity has taken me in many
different directions. Someone once described
me as ‘creative’, a much nicer word than I had used
up until then. I had already tried 6 different
career paths, not knowing what was next. What
I finally learned is that I have picked up valuable lessons along the way no
matter the path I was on at the time, which leads me to
the Sequoia Tree.
In 2004 I was completing my Coach
training (which you can imagine is quite intensive, both
emotionally and mentally). In my last class it came
about thru one of our exercises a need to visit the
Sequoias. You have to know to this point, I had never
seen one and had no reason to go. Immediately upon
returning home I started my research. I think within
the week I had planned and booked our trip for the
upcoming May 24 weekend of 2004. My husband did not
have any idea why I needed to go so much but God love
him he just went with it.
So, on May 21 we started out our 3000
mile journey to California just west of the Nevada
border. Over four days we spend 16 hours traveling plus
two days hiking over 40 miles in the mountains. We
loved every minute of it. And it has been the only long
weekend where I have felt like I had been away for
weeks. Never before (or since) have I come back from a holiday
refreshed as that weekend away.
That first night I mapped all the trails
I wanted to cover and we started the next morning at
6:30am.
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We hiked up a 1600 foot waterfall, climbed 400 steps on Moro rock which the
heights of the valley are equivalent to the Grand Canyon
plus spent hours walking through the different
forests filled with Giant Sequoia trees.
This is the only place in the world
where the Giant Sequoias live which is between 6000 to
8000 feet above sea level (as opposed to the Coastal
Redwoods from the Pacific coast). The landscape is breath
taking with temperatures at this time of year varying
from 40’F in the shade to 80’F in the sun.
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Walking through
the forests you can feel a heartbeat, the forest
has a tempo of its own. Low methodical, it
gives you the impression it has stood the test
of time and will continue to do so. At one
point I was able to stand between two sequoias
and place a hand, one on each. I just
closed my eyes and breathed, letting them
fill me with their wisdom, patience and grace. |
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If
you want to learn to really ‘not sweat the small
stuff’ I suggest a trip to the Sequoia National
Forest. The trees signify to me that it’s
all about the baby steps. Baby steps lead to
the overall goal. They teach us patience
with ourselves and with others. These
trees are the oldest living thing on planet
earth, who could be a better teacher.
If I can help you find your clarity give
me a call at 905-375-4108 or e-mail me at
Lesley@SuccessSystems.ca. Free consultations
available. |
