Chin up, Buttercup | Seeing more through Tree Gazing

This is part 2 of a 3-piece series. Read part 1 here.

Yes, the world may be looking grim right now. It may be hard to “look at the bright side” amidst a global health crisis, imminent economic depression, and mass social isolation.

In the first article of this 3-part series, we explored the benefits of walking a different route than normal for the benefit of a new perspective. Now, how can you make the most of the routes you choose to walk?

I notice many people walking with their head forward — looking straight ahead at the path in front of them. Now, this is a logical way to walk so that you don’t trip and fall on your face, or bump into another person (and violate the 6-foot social distancing rule!). Over the last few years, I’ve increasingly noticed people walking with their head down, looking at their feet, or at their phone. Sometimes it’s necessary to watch your step when walking on rugged terrain, but this does not apply to most folks walking through cities and neighborhoods. Walking with your head down is detrimental — not just to your neck, spine, and posture, but also to your emotional wellbeing.

In 2016, I began engaging in Extreme Tree Gazing when out in nature with friends. The activity is what it sounds like — we would go on walks or hikes through the bountiful forests of Oregon and tilt our heads all the way back to capture the full range of the tall trees. Sometimes we would lie on our backs atop logs or docks (depending on the landscape) and admire the beauty of the canopies all above and around.

Just to clear this up (in case you’re wondering): We’re not a group of tree-hugging hippies. We’re young entrepreneurs with real jobs and/or our own businesses. We contribute to society and we’re driven to help create the future world as it pertains to jobs, the economy, education, and more.

The thing about tree gazing is that it’s so simple, yet hardly anyone does it. Whether it’s that they feel they “don’t have the time” when commuting on foot, they worry about looking silly, or they simply don’t think about it, I notice that the majority of people are missing out when they’re outside.

The benefits of tree gazing are surprisingly vast:

You see something that’s always there, but never noticed.
You exponentially broaden your perspective. Instead of just seeing trunks and branches, you see the parts of the tree that are closest to the sun, and perhaps the most “successful” parts
You realize how tall these trees are, and therefore how old they are. It might make you wonder, “What have these trees seen in their lifetime that I will never get to experience?”
Maybe you’ll see birds or monkeys (depending on region) living their lives — lives that are very different from your own.
You observe true, natural beauty that appears to have no preoccupations — it just is.
You may start to wonder, What if… and I imagine…(fill in the blank that applies to whatever fork in the road you’re at).

Essentially, you realize how small you and your worries are. You are reminded that most trees have lived far longer than you, and they will outlive you. They aren’t concerned by what the tree to their side thinks of them, nor do they wish they had the spot of the tree down the road. Most trees will live for hundreds of years in the exact same place, only growing in one direction: UP.

This reminds me of a quote that I love:

Q: How tall does a tree grow?
A: As tall as it can!

You can go as far and wide as you want to in your walk through life. Before you can take a step in any worthwhile direction, you must lift your head and explore the possibilities you previously ignored or discarded. Ask more questions that start with “What if…” and “I wonder…”

It is easy to develop tunnel vision on your worries and apparent problems in life. It is easy to see things as they appear to be when looked at head-on, and assume that that’s just how they are. Just as it’s important to walk a different route to broaden your perspective, you must not forget to lift that chin up, buttercup. See the world around you in all directions. Much of the beauty, inspiration, and new ideas are happening above your eye-level. And that’s one of the biggest secrets in life.

And here are some pictures to prove it: