Small sways in the breeze make you strong

I watch the olive trees in my backyard dance in the wind.

When they were small, they’d almost fall over.

But the post kept them up.

Now they’re big enough to stand on their own.

A breeze comes along and their branches move with it but not too much.

Every sway and twist sends information back to the trunk to dig in a little more, preparing for the next one.

I realise my olive trees and me aren’t so different.

I lift weights to send information to my muscles.

As long as they’re not too big, the small tears will up add over time and I’ll be stronger.

I get errors in my code and it tells me I’m doing something wrong.

As long as I don’t give up, I can make my programs better over time.

I have a disagreement with my partner and it tells me there’s a communication breakdown somewhere.

As long as we don’t let them build up, we become closer and better at understanding each other's point of view.

An investment decision goes wrong, business slows, creativity hits a standstill, a problem cascades.

As long as none of them lead to complete ruin, every speed bump is an opportunity to strengthen your legs on the climb.

Sure, I might stumble.

Even look like a fool sometimes.

Not to worry.

I’ll be the first to laugh.

Ha!

That’s part of the game!

For I know the secret…

I know my ability to progress is about the same as my willingness to make a fool of myself sometimes.

To be the one without skill but willing to try and acquire it.

And if one day a big breeze does come along and knock me over, well, just like the olive trees, that’s not something I can control.

What can I control?

Treating each small breeze as a piece of information to help me get stronger, smarter, better at communicating, better at decision making.

Then one day if I’m lucky I can use that information to bear fruit.

To share what I’ve learned as gifts.

Like after years of sways and twists.

The olive tree gets to share its olives.