Growing on the Cliffs of Challenge
On the bus from Ankara to Istanbul I enjoyed greatly the scenery. I saw my different types of trees growing in symmetry, one-sided symmetry, growing on cliffs and slopes. I began thinking on us how we go through sloping lives and find ourselves on cliffs and how we tend sometimes to surrender to them. If trees can go on slopes and cliffs can we too grow from difficult positions and challenges? It is growing from such difficult places that we mostly learn, adapt and grow.
Living on a cliff is challenging. Trees know how to send deep roots to collect water and nutrients to survive. Sometimes the roots are exposed with their extreme dangling and forming a cave underneath. It is the development of unique root systems that apparently helps tree to grow on cliffs. With the complexity of our lives in which we find us positioned on cliffs what will be our roots for survival? Is it values, learning, adapting, combination of these? I invite you to share your thoughts.
Not less so are the challenges for trees growing on slopes. I noticed that some trees grow vertically on slopes, while some plants opted for horizontal growth along the slope. You can imagine the challenges imposed on trees living on slopes. Water rolls down away from roots. The greater the slope is, the faster water will run down before soaking the trees. Not only that as trees also face competition from plants with shallow roots as they get the first "touch" of rain and deprive trees from it. Sometimes shallowness helps. Is this a paradox of life?
I noticed some trees with what appeared to be multi-stems trees. The stems are short, but they carry a heavy load. Some trees had very high stems, but carried few branches. The idea of great leaders came to my mind. Are they more like tree with short stems, but they carry the load of work? Or, are they like trees with long stems, but with low loads? Genuine leaders have their roots firmed in what they do. We see the load they carry, but the greater part of what they do remain unseen underground. Those leaders remain close to the ground and carry the maximum load. They help others reach the far horizons. They provide opportunities for others to grow.
In our increasingly complex world requiring us to grow on cliffs and slopes we need to develop great roots to survive and help others survive too. We need strong roots to face life difficulties. I believe identifying what makes great roots for us is a worthy issue.""""
Ali Anani, PhD
مقالات من Ali Anani
عرض المدونةThere is a feedback effect in this bright quote. · This is an on-going feedback loop. · The mo ...
My previous post “Are Ideas Measurable?” generated hugely-important discussions that resulted in the ...
Ideas have springs and jump from one mind to another. The ideas spring work as and springs back to t ...
المتخصصون ذوو الصلة
قد تكون مهتمًا بهذه الوظائف
-
Backend Engineer
منذ 3 ساعات
Friency Amman, الأردنAssistance with the entire app development of our and MongoDB-based backend · Set-up of a test system and development of test scenarios · Support of the app development team during testing of new features · Independent simulation of possible errors and bug fixing · Brainstorming ...
-
Accountant
منذ 3 ساعات
ARAMEX Amman, الأردنPerform all accounting tasks for all Aramex stations' related to Monthly Intercompany accounts reconciliation and balance confirmation. · Act as one point of contact for all assigned Aramex stations. · Handle the intercompany transactions and monthly reconciliation. · Ensure smoo ...
-
Gender-Based Violence Case Coordinator
منذ 3 أيام
IFC - International Finance Corporation Aqabah, الأردنProvide professional case management services to GBV survivors in line with the survivor-centered case management approach. · Provide emotional and PSS support to GBV survivors. · Carry out case management procedures including case intake, case assessment, case planning, case imp ...
التعليقات
Ali Anani
منذ 6 سنوات #19
Dear friend - you say you don't know if saying this makes you shallow "I don't know if that makes me shallow or deep but IMHO we are all living on the edge of life and death". In my opinion this is one of the most deep quotes I have ever read. Yes, we don't know when we shall pass away and so we live on the edge of life and death. It is a fact of life, but the way you stated it is eloquent, smart,,and deep. If this is your shallowness what would then be your depth? I would say ocean deep.
🐝 Fatima G. Williams
منذ 6 سنوات #18
🐝 Fatima G. Williams
منذ 6 سنوات #17
🐝 Fatima G. Williams
منذ 6 سنوات #16
Ali Anani
منذ 6 سنوات #15
Your wisdom prevails Franci\ud83d\udc1dEugenia Hoffman, Brand Ambassador @ beBee. Yes, to be ready for all difficulties, we need to have deep and strong roots.
Ali Anani
منذ 6 سنوات #14
Thank you for formulating the type of roots humans need o have . This is the first comment to respond to this issue and I therefore welcome it heartedly.
Ali Anani
منذ 6 سنوات #13
Thank you for your timely comment Yogesh Sukal. Very ice and inspirational quote.
Ali Anani
منذ 6 سنوات #12
Thank you so much for your great comment Lance \ud83d\udc1d Scoular- you are truly a scholar Scoular. You deserve the title "The Scholar Scoular". Yes, I tend to favor "green"metaphors and by thais I mean metaphors derived from nature. Your onion example resonates with me. I appreciate your good words and I feel so encouraged by them.
Lance 🐝 Scoular
منذ 6 سنوات #11
Ali Anani
منذ 6 سنوات #10
Thank you for your nice comment and also for highlighting a crucial point that Sara Jacobovici mentioned in her first comment. Yes, we may have different proportions, but still we may coexist.
Ali Anani
منذ 6 سنوات #9
Appreciate your lovely comment Bill Stankiewicz, \ud83d\udc1d Brand Ambassador
Bill Stankiewicz
منذ 6 سنوات #8
Ali Anani
منذ 6 سنوات #7
Thank you dear debasish majumder and your comment has a special place in my heart. I am reading your last buzz and in fact started thinking about you. You write stories on people living on slopes and cliffs and this buzz should benefit greatly from your insights.
Ali Anani
منذ 6 سنوات #6
The selected quote is the prime reason that urged me to write this buzz dear Sara Jacobovici. Thank you for your sharing..
Ali Anani
منذ 6 سنوات #5
Not surprised at all my dear Sara Jacobovici that you highlighted the shallowness paradox. I agree with you completely in that proportions have a major role to lay and play. How deep is your writing "It's reality has the richness of its own depth"! This is a wonderful statement and warrants probing. So, reality could be as shallow plants wit shallow roots, or it could be deeply rooted in the soil. Where does reality get its "waters"? You mesmerised me with this deep thought. I also enjoyed reading why the balance of work-life is distorted. We may have deep roots in our work, but shall roots for our lives. ANd yet they live together "You wrote "What is interesting is that both the plant and the tree can actually survive side by side inspite of their different proportions". Is this also extensible to work and life? Very deep thinker you are Sara.
Ali Anani
منذ 6 سنوات #4
Thank you Joyce \ud83d\udc1d Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee. I must confess that your comment surprised me. DO I wish to be growing on a cliff? The reality is that sometimes we are "planted" by change and circumstances on a cliff.
Sara Jacobovici
منذ 6 سنوات #3
Sara Jacobovici
منذ 6 سنوات #2
Joyce 🐝 Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee
منذ 6 سنوات #1