Meet Josh(ua)
The hero we need has Dr Seuss hair
I got back recently from California, where I had the chance to visit Joshua Tree National Park for the third time in three years. (I can get a little obsessive) It was only this third time when I started looking into the namesake tree. What I discovered kinda floored me.
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I’m the kind of person who can remember what I wore for every single one of my school pictures, but I can’t remember almost anything I learned in any science or math class. Every time I read something about nature, it’s like a fresh revelation, but the truth is I probably “learned” it (maybe multiple times) years ago. A Finding Nemo approach to academics — constant breaking news!
The Joshua Tree aka the Yucca Palm is (drum roll) FLEXIBLE. Its innards are mostly hollow and let me repeat: it’s a flexible tree. It thrives in extreme desert climates and it grows in the direction of the wind. Its shape is dictated by the environment and each one is unusual and different. In other words, they live in a hellscape and they adapt to form something of beauty. They can accommodate tragic circumstances while still staying strong.
If there was EVER a metaphor for what we need today, this has to be it. I’m not trying to start a fight about politics, but you have to admit that a lot of people are going through something.
The Joshua Tree has been a symbol of survival and resilience for lots of people throughout history, among them Native Americans, Mormons, and of course Bono!
So let’s remember that we too can adapt to harsh conditions without sacrificing our core. Bend but don’t break. Recognize your Dr. Seussian beauty. Call on your inner Lorax and Be Like Joshua.
A quote I love:
“Small people come in all sizes.” (A smart and shady quote from the brilliant
)What I’m reading:
Still Life with Remorse by Maira Kalman
What I’m watching:
The Lincoln Lawyer (if you’re a Michael Connolly fan, it’s NOTHING like the books, but it’s good junk food)
BOO: Best of (recent) Obituaries:
You made it this far? Congrats!! This newsletter is still morphing based on my whims. It’ll probably be different every time. Thanks for rolling with it! Mary