As I stand tall on the border of what was and what is now; I reflect. Time is different for me compared to most. Time may pass in minutes and hours for some but for me; it passes in seasons. I grew amongst my friends; each of us reaching higher or further to see who could enjoy more of the warm sun. While we competed for the sun we grew in harmony, with some searching deeper into the earth for nutrients while others searched the surface. As a community, we grew by sharing the strain of harsh winds that could have toppled us, provided shade for each other when rain was scarce, and offered support when heavy snow could bring us to our knees. As one we would have faltered, but as many we grew into a diverse community where our differences became strengths. My past twelve seasons have been more exciting than usual as I have seen our community change at a rate unfamiliar to me with little control from us. This journey from what was to what is now; is what I reflect upon.
One season, as I was preparing to enjoy the warmth and growth that accompanies the spring everything changed. Equipment I have only heard travel along the road behind me began to open clearings into our community. I have survived fires, droughts, other communities going through unwanted change, and now it was my turn to be affected by this change that was out of my control. I watched my friends and community who helped me grow fall one by one while unable to help. As the ground shook and the equipment approached, I could only watch as they drew closer. They stopped, right in front of me as I shook from both apprehension and the vibrations from the equipment. I could feel the heat from their motors and smell the carbon in their exhaust as I wondered what was to come. As suddenly as they approached my base; they began to back away leaving behind so many questions. Why was I fortunate enough to remain while a part of my community did not? What other changes are to come? How will I move on from what was and process what is now?
Many more changes were to come once the equipment left. Terraforming began to create shelter for our new neighbors, those who see in minutes and hours. It was noisy and busy, but they left the rest of our community alone which I am thankful for. A shelter grew, but the ground was left bare leaving me to wonder what was to come or how it would remain. This thought stayed with me through my cold winter sleep.
As spring arrived, I awoke and noticed diversity being brought to our community. Not in the way I once knew, but in forms of flora not seen or supported before such as flowers, vegetables, and grass. A new community has begun to grow, a more diverse community that began to instill hope in what seemed hopeless. I watched as the land was being restored while I focused on growing taller and restoring my roots that were damaged by the change forced upon us.
Seasons later, I now see more life accompanying our new neighbors attracted by the diversity that was introduced. Bees are appearing in numbers I have not seen before, attracted to the sweet raspberries and clover patches that now grow near my base. Hummingbird families now call our branches home between trips to the sweetened water hung by our neighbors. Rabbits are becoming more common as they seek refuge from their predators and sustenance from the gardens. What seemed to be the end of our community is now evolving and attracting more life and diversity to be incorporated as strengths. This slightly changed ecosystem that impacts me very little has impacted those around me largely, for the better. These observations of life and new beginnings are serving as a newly found nutrient helping me to continue my healing process.
As seasons continue to fall behind me so does my apprehension. My roots are now healed and I feel I can continue to grow. As I watch our new community grow and continue to diversify I am met with a sense of peace. Where I was once left pondering how I will move on from what was; I now have a new question to ask over many more seasons. Excitedly my question has changed, for many coming seasons I will reflect on what is now and what is to come?
Summary
I have framed this story around hope and healing after a traumatic event. The narrator is a mature tree that witnessed the clearing of a property lot and is on the border of the remaining forest in my sit spot. The tree is humanized through the narrative to help the reader connect and guide them through a healing process. Shackleford et al. (2016, para.8) found that “… by simulating the experience of hardship and resolution in peoples real lives … can lead them to feel their own emotions and revisit autobiographical memories.”. Feelings and experiences are described to impart emotions to the reader while keeping causation vague enough that they can transpose their own experiences. The tone is kept hopeful with positive undertones to promote positive transformation (Armstrong et al., 2018, p.65); whereas, a negative tone could drag the reader further into grief. Images accompany and correspond with the descriptions to help immerse the reader into the story being narrated “ as our understanding of the world is dominated by what we see…”( Corner et al., 2016, p.6).
References
Dill-Shackleford, K., Hopper-Losenicky, K., Vinney, C. (2016, August, 6). Connecting the dots between fantasy and reality: The social psychology of our engagement with fictional narrative and its functional value. Social and Personaility Pyschology Compass, 10, 634-646. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12274
Armstrong, A., Krasny, M., Schuldt, J. (2018). Communicating Climate Change: A Guide for Educators. Cornell University Press. https://doi.org/10.1353/book.68536
Corner, A., Webster, R., & Teriete, C. (2015). Climate Visuals: Seven principles for visual climate change communication (based on international social research). Climate Outreach. https://climateoutreach.org/reports/climate-visuals-seven-principles-for-visual-climate-change-communication/