Famous author, Robert Jordan once wrote, “The oak fought the wind and was broken; the willow bent when it must and survived.”
We are already a week into 2021 and we all survived what could be considered one of the worst possible years that we will ever have to endure. That alone is an achievement worth recognising. At this point in time we could all use a little bit of hope; a light at the end of a tunnel signalling that there are great things to come.
Something quite significant which we can all aspire to be like in 2021 is a willow tree. Willow trees through the years have all symbolised hope, safety and a sense of belonging. What is even more amazing about this specific tree is that nearly all willow trees stem from cuttings or single branches that fell on the ground. Willow tree branches can be bent and contorted in many different ways without any sign of snapping. The strongest winds can blow and bend the leaves and make it seem as though the branches will snap or the tree will fall down, but make no mistake, the roots of a willow tree are remarkably strong.
2020 broke off all of our branches. We all felt a great deal of solitude and dispair. We had to overcome challenges every single day, never knowing what might come next. 2021, however, should be our willow tree. It should be a symbol of new life and show how we can thrive in even the worst challenging circumstances.
So in the spirit of new beginnings, shake off that 2020 blues and start 2021 filled with optimism and hope for amazing blessings that are to come. It is up to you if you want to break like an oak or bend like a willow.