Lessons from The Mother Tree

The book The Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Professor Suzanne Simard is a beautiful exploration of the intricate relationships within forests, focusing on the concept of "Mother Trees." Simard, a forest ecologist, presents her research showing that trees are not isolated entities but part of a vast, interconnected network of roots and fungi - the "wood wide web."

Simard explains how Mother Trees, the largest and oldest trees in the forest, play a critical role in sustaining the ecosystem. These trees act as hubs in the underground network, sharing nutrients and information with younger trees and even different species. The Mother Tree helps to support the entire forest's health, promoting resilience and adaptability.

The book shows us the importance of understanding and protecting these complex ecological relationships advocating that a holistic approach to embrace and nurture nature is key. The Mother Tree shows us the hidden life of our natural environments revealing how interconnected and interdependent life truly is.

Like nature – we are the lifeblood in our own lives. Carers, partners, friends, sisters, wives, lovers, providers, artists, writers, doctors, lawyers, scientists, animal lovers and so much more… Mothers to our daughters and sons, aunts and  safe havens to those who need us (refer to this article on lighthouses from Maggie Dent). Rural women are also often the  glue that holds their communities together (Babacan 2021).

If you are reading this (firstly thank you), know that taking care of you is not an act of selfishness. Taking care of YOU is essential for the wellbeing of all around you, particularly to those you hold near and dear.

In kicking off my Love Your Body #LYB program. My message for September is – it is ok to prioritise taking care of yourself. Not everything has to be rushed. Slow down, breathe, wiggle your toes in the green grass under a tree, take the time to laugh, smile and dance. We are enough as we are. And even when we are doing nothing – we are in fact doing something. We are growing, nurturing and simply ‘being’ for those around us.

Take care friends. The end of the year is coming toward us. We don’t need to race toward it. Let us go slowly, mindfully and with intent.

Kym

xxoo