It’s been a rough year.  Really rough.  But that’s a good thing.  Last May I started a new job, and it’s hard.  This job has pushed me and stretched me beyond where I thought I could go.  It has been a ride, a roller coaster of ups and downs.  At first, I honestly didn’t know if I’d make it.  I still don’t.  But things are looking better every day.  This job may be hard, but I am grateful.  This job saved me, saved my land, and it saved my trees.

Before the new job, circumstances were such that I was looking at foreclosure on my property, very real and imminent foreclosure.  In a desperate move, I started a GoFundMe campaign to save my land.  That was one of the most difficult and soul baring things I’ve ever done.  I don’t regret it for a second though.  The GoFundMe campaign did save my land.  And if anyone who contributed is reading this, you have no idea how thankful I am.  I wish I could explain it.

Then out of nowhere, I’m approached by a recruiter about this job opportunity.  I applied thinking no way I would get it.  Long story short, five interviews later, I got it.  The pay is enough where I can make my payment, and the husband’s income covers food, utilities and most everything else.  We are not out of the woods yet, but each day we work, and each month, another payment goes in.  There is no money for anything extra, but I don’t care.  I don’t need anything extra.

But this is a long intro to get to the point.  The point is, that it’s been an intense year.  I have pushed and pushed and pushed with no break.  I can’t quit, even if I want to. Long hours, a long winter, and constant pressure have all left me drained, exhausted, and sometimes discouraged.

I write.  I started this website for me.  Here I can put out the random things that float around in my head, and I can share this amazing life in the country that I love so much.  In addition, maybe I can earn a little extra income to help ease the financial burden that drags me down.  But ultimately I Live in the Country is a place to share and to write and to put up pretty fun pictures for anyone who might enjoy them.

Now we’re actually getting to real point of this post.  Through this website I have met some super ladies on their own journey of growth and sharing.  Each has faced, or is facing, her own set of trials.  Each amazing lady stands up and bravely puts out her story.  I’ll tell ya, these gals have overcome far more than me and my land problem, and they don’t quit.

One blog in particular stopped me in my tracks.  Treesmendus.com, run by Verla, is a website about the health benefits of trees.  Verla is a retired registered nurse and has a Master’s in Health Science.  She talks about many different benefits of being around trees, such as tree air and how it heals us.  I’m not going to go into all the details, because the information is there on treesmendus.com, and Verla does a fantastic job of teaching us about healing through trees.

Trees Mend Us reminded me, just as I was feeling used up and drained of all positive energy, that I have, right here right now, everything I need to heal my spent emotions, center my scattered mind, relax my tired body, and fill my empty soul.  Spring is finally here.  Snow is almost melted.  The ground is almost thawed.  And the big pines stand tall and magical as they always do.

In the day to day of work and stress I forgot all the beauty around me.  Moreover, winter is dark in the North.  When I leave for work it is dark.  When I come home from work it is dark.  Most days I never see the trees.  But I feel their presence.  With spring, however, light also comes.  Warmth, warmth comes too.

In the new light, I looked out one day and noticed My trees. My trees.  I don’t own these trees.  I am privileged to share this space on Earth with them.  How long these trees have lived here, I don’t know.  Some of them are old.   When I looked out that day and saw the trees, I thought of Verla and how she teaches others about the healing benefits of trees.

I walked out to the trees and felt their strength.  I sat under them and listened to the wind whisper in the needles.  I felt the breeze on my face and let the spring sun warm me.  The cats, Bo and Darryl, followed me as they always do and wound around me each vying for a place on my lap.  Bo won out.  He is a persistent lap kitty.  Darryl not so much.  She likes lap sometimes but prefers to hang nearby and chirp and head butt the ground and roll.

I will never cut them down.  Every now and then one of these sentinels falls.  It may be a thunderstorm, or lightning.  A couple of them have died but still stand.

I am deeply saddened each time a tree is lost.  They seem ageless; they’ll be here forever, but I know they won’t be.  They will, however, be here for a long time.

Trees Mend Us reminded me how special these trees are.  Verla gave me a new appreciation for them, and made me realize that I need to get out and spend some real time reconnecting.  And that’s what I’ve been doing.  In those rare free moments I go out and soak up the energy of the trees.  I sit and listen to the wind in the needles.  I let my mind relax and my soul recharge.

And do you know what?  It’s working.  I feel so much better.  My mind is clearer.  My energy is stronger.  I see a higher perspective, and I can get through my demanding work day.  I can take the pressure.  I have a plan, and the trees feed me strength so I can see it through.

Thank you Universe.  Thank you Verla.  Thank you trees.