March 22, 2012

Have You Hugged a Tree Today?


At the risk of looking like a complete fool to my neighbor, I hugged my tree today.  Really hugged it.

I learned three things:

First, the girth of said tree is much larger than I anticipated.  As my arms circled the tree its generous volume completely filled my embrace.

Two, my initial feelings of utter foolishness were soon replaced by immense feelings of gratitude.  Gratitude for its endurance and tenacity for survival, the sheer magnitude of its presence, its fresh spring canopy and the dappled shade it provides. Uncomplicated gratitude.

And third, that the experience made me smile.  So much so that I chose to linger in the embrace and soak in all that abundant gratefulness and mirth the tree had to offer.

Do you think I'm a nut?  Maybe so.

Try it.  Hug your tree.  Listen to the gentle breeze through its leaves and feel the rough textured bark on your skin.  It's powerful.  And fun.  And if your neighbors laugh at you, you can tell them some tree hugger in Austin told you to do it.




11 comments:

  1. Nice way to share a moment with nature. Cute post!

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  2. I hug ponderosa pines in summer when I go up to the mountains (they smell like vanilla), but I need to broaden my horizons!! That must make me an Austinite, too.

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  3. What a fun post! Alas, I have no trees in my yard to hug.

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  4. I love and hug my trees and now when people call me a tree hugger I can say yes I am..I never wonder what my neighbors think anymore as I wander around snapping pictures of soil, grass, leaves and the tiniest blooms they cannot see...laying on the water soaked ground to capture a picture...I know what they think :)
    Thx Cat for reminding us to hug our trees more...

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  5. I have never hugged my trees but I do stroke the trunks and talk to them. Makes me feel good.

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  6. That's a big tree! It looks fun. Maybe I'll give it a try!

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  7. That IS a big tree. Takes a BIG hug.

    I love all our trees. So many didn't make it through the drought and the fires. I'm thankful for those who did.

    I think my neighbors think 'There's that woman again...in that big old hat...playing in the dirt. And, she has her camera...again.' They don't mention they think I'm a bit goofy... :)

    Have a great weekend.

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  8. The picture I took of you hugging that tree in the Muir Woods (and all the discussion had before and after hugging it) bring back some of my all-time favorite memories.

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  9. Tree Hugger- hahah cute. Great post. =0)

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