Backyard Trees & Thoughts

I had mentioned our backyard trees to my friend Victoria (of The Dreaming Palette) yesterday and she said I should take pictures sometime. So, that's what I did this morning. 

In our rather small backyard we have nine large trees. It was hard taking photos because I can't get enough distance to capture all of them. 

I love how this one tree was incorporated into the back porch! 

Probably because of the trees (two large pines and seven oak trees), we have amazing wildlife in our small backyard. 

All those birds I have shown you in earlier posts, plus toads, frogs, snakes, lizards, salamanders, squirrels, opossums, and raccoons.  And probably some mice we don't usually see... Also, because the trees are very tall, there is a whole community of birds in the tree tops that we never see in our yard. We often hear green herons somewhere in the trees, but very rarely can spot them. The same with the pileated woodpeckers.

I love sitting outside and looking up into the trees, contemplating "stuff"! In fact, it's one of my very favorite things to do! 

And this morning I was contemplating something that's been on my mind lately that I've been wondering about. It's our notion that we have to do everything by ourselves in life and how hard it is to accept anything from others. 

I know quite a few people (I'm not talking about any of you here, but I am including myself as this has been true for me at times) who would do anything for others, but have a hard time if anything done for them that isn't "paid for." Do you know what I mean? We've become so insular and I think many people have so much stress in their lives because they cannot allow others to help in any way.

And then I wonder if you can really truly know the gift of giving to someone (a true gift - no strings attached) if you cannot allow a gift to be given to you? I think giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin and you cannot know the one without knowing the other.

I have come to no conclusions, but I have this feeling that learning to receive is just as important as learning how to give. And for all of our talk of community, that seems to only go so far. Is it fear? Is is pride (shame)? Is it feeling like a failure? Probably all of those. And that makes me a little sad.

How much do we miss out on because we cannot accept a gift? Maybe it's that we believe we aren't worthy. Or that what we have to offer in return isn't as valuable as what we receive. I'm not sure.

I should say, too, that I've experienced all of this with every range of emotion, which is why this occupies my thoughts...

I know I'm not being super clear here, but do you have any thoughts about this?