I look at the tree that stands before me, and one word that comes to mind is life. But when I use the word life, I do not mean in the general sense that the tree is just alive. What I mean is everything that makes up the idea and creation of life. For example, age. This tree seems very old; many of its branches and leaves just waiting to fall. It has seen changes in itself and all around it from grass to buildings, to roads and so on. It has been admired, used, trimmed, photographed; and after all these things it remains green and standing tall. For some reason I look at this tree as life and I tend to relate it to my own. At the bottom of the tree there are fewer branches and leaves. There are many spaces between the branches and the trunk seems more straight and smooth. This is just how I feel my life began, easy, smooth, and not many hardships. But as I look up the tree, everything begins to change. The trunk becomes less straight, and the branches become more abundant, growing in all different directions; some growing across each other and others starting from a branch instead of the main trunk. I see each branch as a path or a decision made. Some may be good and some may be bad but they all affect the other branchesaround them. And on these bnranches grow leaves; these leaves can be the outcomes of the decisions made or even basic influences of life. Some of these leaves grow, die, are eaten, freeze, or fall, and life goes on. The tree has dealt with trauma such as harsh weather, but has chosen not to be overcome. Like I said before, this tree reminds me of my life. The hardships i have had to overcome, the decisions I have had to make. And I notice, near the top of this tree, it never begins to get smoother or smaller. The top is the largest part of the entire tree. It consist of the most branches and the most leaves, and it sees the most sun and feels the most rain. The top of the tree comes from what has grown beneath it. I see this as the decisions made throughout life are what determine the outcome. This is an encouragement to me, to make every branch and leaf count whether it rains or shines. And i need to accept that some leaves will fall and some branches will break. But I have to make the decision if I am going to let each branch that dies, slow me down from growing and becoming the biggest and best person I can be. I must remember there are many thing around me, that need me, and that depend on me; to be a rolemodel, or a protector or even just an inspiration...like one old pine tree.