There are many perks as well as challenges living in a tropical climate. One of the perks that I so enjoy is upon awaking in the mornings to walk out to my back yard raise my hands to heaven and give thanks for another day. I take in the airiness and beauty surrounding me, which is listening to singing of the birds, inspecting the new blossoms, leaves, or new fruits from my trees, and taking in the joy of Zeus and Zina, my four-legged best friends enjoying their morning breakfast.
Among the many fruit trees that are in my back yard is a very tall papaya tree that I grew from seedlings. Now, this tree has rewarded me with fruits. Picking her fruits with my long bamboo pole first thing in the morning is such a treat and joy. Then I head to the kitchen to prepare my breakfast which will be accompanied by my freshy picked ripe papaya.
The outdoors early in the morning in Costa Rica is magical. To capture this magic, I always eat my breakfast in my front yard. A front yard that can be descripted as a small jungle, where all the vibrant greens of nature are contrasted by my canary yellow lounge chair, breakfast table and chair which is enclosed by a homemade bamboo fence. Here is where I make my typical morning decisions. For example, do I eat all the seeds of the papaya (it is so good for your health) or eat some and throw the rest on the ground in front of me where there is some soil and where an Aloe Vera plant is growing.
I know what you are thinking: “Some big decision!” On some occasions my stomach wins and on others the ground with soil wins as to who gets the seeds. Weeks went by and one day there appeared baby papaya trees growing where I had dropped the seeds. This area in my front yard has not the adequate space in which a single papaya tree can grow and strive, much less four trees. I made the decision to allow them to grow to the maximum they could in such a limited space. I must tell you, in Costa Rica the climate and the soil act like steroids. Things grow at a very rapid speed. It was not long that entering my front gate I was met with papaya leaves hitting me in my face all the way to my front door. It was time for them to have a new home and there had begun my life lessons from them.
A friend/client of mine who is a business owner started to create a garden close to her business. She asked if I could assist. I told her about the papaya trees that needed a new home. She was thrilled to have them. The following day I uprooted the four baby trees and took them with me in a burlap bag. Upon arrival on site to train my client I saw her worker. I handed over the bag with the trees and advised him to ensure that he planted them right away to ensure their survival.
The following day I arrived again to train my client. I saw the same worker and I asked, “Did you plant the trees?” He had forgotten. I was very concerned, so I told him please do it now. He did, however the following day when I saw what were once vibrant papaya leaves that used to hit me in my face, the leaves were now weak and were bent drooping over like a runner, bent over catching their breath after a long race.
The papaya trees were adjusting to their new home and were literally “catching their breaths”. They looked defeated. This may sound strange to some but the only thing that came to my spirit to do was to go over to each plant and apologize for the delay and encourage them to strive. So, I did just that. I knelt before each tree, placed my hands on its trunks and reminded them that they had solid roots; the rest it could let go, so it could come back even stronger. To let go of the bent over leaves and start again.
Their strength was in their roots not their leaves. Two days passed and all the leaves were gone. Yet the trunks were green and vibrant. There was hope. There was one tree that kept on a baby leave. This was the one that gave me the most profound of lesson.
I arrived to train my client after we had a tail of a hurricane with extremely heavy rain fall. The first thing that caught my attention was this tree. With all the leaves gone except for the baby leave and two small stems it gave the appearance of a strong woman with her hair flowing down her back, with her hands raised up giving praise. I was awestruck. I went to find my client to tell her to come and see the plant, only to find as I turned the corner, I was walking into a disaster zone that was created by the tail of the hurricane. Mud was everywhere in the rooms. The swimming pool, originally looking blue as the ocean, looked like a brown water hole. (I did mention earlier of the challenges of living in a tropical climate. This is one such challenge). In all of this perceived disaster this plant was giving what looks like praise.
Reflecting on this. I realize no training was going to take place today. I found my client and took her to see the papaya tree of praise. It brough on a smile to her face and through the entire cleaning up process we laughed and found the positive things that occurred due to the tail of the hurricane hitting her property and we gave praise and was very grateful for the lessons learned .
First lesson: It is possible to start over even if everyone or everything that you are attached to dies, leaves you, or falls away. The beginning may be challenging and may seem hopeless. You may bow your head but with what you have left, look up, raise your hands, give thanks and praise you are still here. You can grow from the depth of your “roots” and you will attract new “leaves” that will grow with you to become the better version of yourself and you can and will produce great fruits.
Second lesson: Give praise in all circumstances. There is always something positive in it if you are willing to look.
Third Lesson: Keep striving regardless of where you are planted.
Lorraine V. Fletcher
11/18/2020
