MOTHER NATURE REALLY DOES KNOW BEST

Self-help and personal growth books come in all shapes and sizes and cover a wide range of topics.

But not many share lessons from trees as this little book does.

Put down strong roots.

Bask in the sun.

Don’t be afraid to branch out.

Stand tall.

See how well these apply to human beings as well as trees?

Ask for help when you need it. The elm is not embarrassed to ask for help when it finds itself in a tricky situation. If it comes under attack from caterpillars, it releases pheromones to attract parasitic wasps, who then lay their eggs inside the caterpillars and neutralize the threat. We often think that self-reliance is the key to success, but the elm knows that you don’t need to handle everything yourself. Sometimes you just have to call in the wasps.

Be like a willow which turns pollutants in the water into fertilizing nitrates and tidy up your surroundings.

Make the most of your community like a Douglas fir and look after the next generation like a sugar maple.

Figure out what’s bothering you like the beech. A beech can tell if it has been nibbled at by deer, and will release tannins to make it taste horrible. If it simply lost a twig to the wind, however, it will only produce the hormones it needs to seal off that area and heal. So be more beech and figure out the cause of your broken twigs.

By taking cues from Mother Nature, you might be surprised to find yourself breathing easier, embracing change, weathering storms and being just a little more tree.

I specially love the lessons from trees I am familiar with from my childhood.

Follow your own path from the banyan.

Get in touch with your spiritual side from the peepul.

And, offer shelter to others, from the neem.

Our relationships with others are important – we all need intimacy and love, and looking after others gives us a sense of purpose and empathy, which in turn can help to reduce stress and anxiety. In its home countries of India and Pakistan, the neem is often found in drought-prone areas where nothing much else will grow, its large canopy providing welcome shade. Its leaves are edible and also contain powerful insect-repelling chemicals, while its nectar is popular with bees. It’s not surprising that there’s a lot of love for this useful and generous tree.

Beautiful illustrations accompany the wisdom of each tree, making this a book I keep on my bedside table and dip into frequently as a treat – after having inhaled it at one go the first time.