“In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect.
Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.”
– Alice Walker
I recently had the pleasure of traveling to the Pacific Northwest with my family, where we spent days hiking through magnificent and increasingly rare old-growth forests. Old-growth forests have the unusual quality of remaining undisturbed by humans, left in their pristine natural state. As a result, they boast unique ecological features. They contain massive trees ranging from 200 to over 1,000 years old. They also have stunningly diverse and thriving ecological communities where plants and animals flourish by supporting and nourishing each other.
If we pay attention, Nature teaches us many lessons about living our own human lives. One such “teacher” is the nurse log. A nurse log is a fallen tree that, even after its lifetime, continues to play an essential role in nourishing, sustaining, and supporting its community. Nurse logs lay on their sides on the forest floor. From their trunks, many new life forms grow and thrive. A photo of one incredible nurse log we encountered on our hikes is pictured above. Notice the many saplings emerging from its upturned heart-shaped root system.
While I was hiking in these beautiful forests, we also marked the first anniversary of my father’s passing. So, these walks with my children had special meaning to me. Watching all those nurse logs giving new life to the forest reminded me that my loved ones are never gone. They are deeply rooted in me and everyone they touched in their lifetimes. Their spirit, love, knowledge, and energy continue nurturing and sustaining us, just like those nurse logs.
Nurse logs and these forests offer many profound lessons on life, growth, grit, and resilience. Here are some of those lessons:
Continuity and Renewal – A nurse log is a perfect example of when one chapter ends, another begins. The end of something doesn’t have to mean total loss; it can also be a source of inspiration, growth, and renewal. We have setbacks or endings in relationships, jobs, or other significant events. Although these are difficult to endure and often heartbreaking, they are also an inevitable part of life and pave the way for insight, gratitude, and personal growth.
Interconnectedness and Community – A nurse log supports a whole ecosystem. Just like the forest, we, too, are all deeply interconnected. And just like all the organisms in the forest, we need each other to survive and thrive. We are all individual parts of a much larger whole. Our actions, no matter how big or small, impact our communities. The entire community and each individual benefit when we cultivate relationships with shared responsibility, respect, kindness, care, and support.
Resilience and Adaptability – Seeing a fallen tree is heartbreaking. The strong, vibrant life that once existed has fallen to the ground. But with a closer look, we see that the fallen tree has become an essential source of life for so many others, showing us that life never ends but is transformed and adapted into new forms.
The Power of Giving – The nurse log continues to give of itself from the forest floor. It nourishes, supports, and sustains many plants and animals long after falling. Its generosity reminds us to be giving ourselves. Whether through sharing knowledge, offering support, helping others, being present, or simply being kind, generosity of spirit creates positivity, love, and growth. And its ripple effects have a significant and long-lasting impact for generations.
Patience and Time – Growth on a nurse log doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time for moss, fungi, and new trees to establish themselves, grow, and thrive. This reminds us to be patient with ourselves and others. Meaningful change takes time. New growth and endless possibilities will emerge with the right conditions, including love, nurturing, and patience.
🌳🙏❤️,
Cheryl