Messages we take from a tree.

well 3/4s of a tree

I put up my Christmas tree, and those who follow me on social media would have seen how that went for me.

Not great, not great at all.

So what do you say?

But on reflection, it's what I took out of that night that is the vital part.

We all see the beautiful finished article posted on every page we scroll on our feed.

Like all else, we presume to be the finished article of all other posts people choose to put up.

We do not see the struggles, the possible arguments, the hours of thought and work put into it to make it look the perfect spectacle we get to see.

What can we take from this? Are there lessons to be had?

We spend hours fanning the trees to make them look as natural as possible.

Since last year, the tangled lights sitting peacefully in the box caused us so much stress trying to unwind to do it all over again.

The broken baubles, or the sentimental ones we hang, may happen to bring back a sad memory.

Turning on the lights stupidly after you put them on reveals the tree looks more like a block of flats where half the residents are in darkness, and the others have every single room lit up.

Or if you happen to be like me (highly unlikely), the top part looks a little crooked, so you try to straighten it and snap it off in your hand.

At that stage, close to midnight, the temptation to accept defeat was strong.

Losing that chance of that perfect tree picture post.

I kept going, only decorated the bottom part, redid the lights, and finished what I had started, but with the knowledge there was still work (a lot of work) to finish it.

I am still working on this tree; however long it will take, I will make it look ok for me, not the followers who follow me on social media.

I will not give up on this tree.

Just like ourselves, we have a choice do we give up on something quickly, or do we continue to do the work to better ourselves, however long it takes?

Life seems fine for so long, and suddenly, it becomes tangled and disjointed (just like those lights). Do we stop and breathe and take our time to work it out?

Do we sometimes lose our heads (also tree-related), panic, and give up?

Or are we prepared to ask for help?

Listen to those willing to help us in these times of stress.

(Thank you for all the lovely suggestions and the gorilla tape given to me to try to mend the top.)

If we could mend only things that seem broken in life with some tape, how simple would that be?

Do we keep going with the end goal in mind when we hit a bump or two?

Do we appreciate that behind every photo or memory shared, there is a story that was not clear to see? A tale less than perfect.

I have come to terms with this will be the last Christmas I will share with this tree so that I will embrace every moment left with it, but

Are we aware as humans to accept defeat when things have just run their course, no matter how hard we have tried, to prevent more stress and pain in the future?

I chose to share the tree scenario to bring happiness and laughs to those who viewed it, for I was laughing at it myself.

But I am also mindful and grateful to all those who reached out to help, and I am willing to listen, not only about Christmas trees disasters but to other more serious matters should they arise.

I am proud of my tree. It is quirky and unique, for I am the only one to view it every day, just as the reflection we all get to see each day in a mirror.

We all have struggles that not all get to see.

We all have imperfections and work to do, but we will do it within our own time, along with the support of those close we choose to be around us.

Are we being kind enough to ourselves to accept that?

And keep going and not give up?

As always, thanks for reading.

Marcus.