You're not a rock

We're more like trees, perhaps an Oak– sturdy and much more resilient than one would think, yet still with the capacity to grow this way and that, and display adaptations to shifts in our environment.

Too often we go through life, having grown used to our surroundings and our way of being that we think we can no longer change– but even a hundred year old redwood still has the capacity to grow branches in new directions, what makes you think you don't?

Not only are we capable of change, but in many ways we are much more adaptable than the tree– indeed, unlike trees, it is the adversity that actively helps us grow. “The impediment to action advances action.", Marcus Aurelius, wrote, "What stands in the way becomes the way.”

It is through adversity we find new heights of being, uncover deeper truths about ourselves and refine our characters.

Most importantly, adversity is a test that can reveal to us what the quality of our character truly is– it's easy to be "good" when things are easy after all; much more complicated when things are hard.

So regardless of your disposition and age, remember that you are not a rock. You have more in common with trees.