“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”

I was speaking to a gentleman older than myself, after a yoga class, and he told me a story that a reading at the end of class reminded him of. 

“A man on the road saw an old man planting a tree.  The man stopped and asked the old man why he was planting that tree when he could die tomorrow? The old man said, I live as though I will never die. The man replied, I live as if I would die tomorrow. Which of us is right in our way of living?”

He had tears in his eyes as he reached the end of the story. I embraced him and said thank you. He had planted a seed that needed to be recognized and nurtured.

One of my biggest fears has always been the fear of death. I didn’t want to die. I was terrified of death, but I was equally terrified of living forever. I would keep myself awake as a kid trying not to feel the drop of my heart into my stomach in fear of having to live forever and go throughout eternity and be stuck in the clouds. I also stopped sleeping under sheets since I was 8 because I swore that something had grabbed my foot one night and pulled me down the bed and the sheets were tucked in, which was impossible and I checked every other room in the house!
Which is surprising for a child? Neither. Which is surprising for an adult? Neither.

This is why: the thread is the same for both woven conceptions shaping my existence. It is simply, fear of the unknown. I know I have that fear, and you don’t have to lift your hand if you do too.

We sometimes let our imaginations run wild in the thoughts of the “what if’s.” Coming up with multiple scenarios about the day before they even happen, trying to plan a bunch of “what if’s.” Yes, there is a difference between planning and neurosis. Planning on future conversations before they happen blocks us from listening and hearing what the other might have to say. By focusing our thoughts on what we expect to happen, we can prevent our own growth, and that of others, by placing molds on them. Allowing them to grow, instead of cutting of their support by holding on. We can live more in the present as we go about our existence here on this planet and grow, or we can let fear stop us from stepping out and experiencing what life is.
If you've ever imagined yourself into a spiral of unknown "what ifs" there is usually a clutching fear that lands in the belly. And the best thing you can do for that: breathe. Wait, what, that easy? Of course not, but if you train your body, your mind will follow, eventually. Recognize what made you feel that way, repeat "Is this true?" and breathe in and out of your nose until the feeling goes away. Gradually, with time and practice, the benefits are far worth the effort.

“At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally. Least of all, ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.”
–Oraibi

Who knows, I could have missed out on a magical journey with a cool creature or figured out the secret to eternal life if I didn’t recoil in fear. If I wasn’t so scared to consider all the possibilities as a child, as an adult, and try to grow from whatever experience happened. Consider imagining the unknown without fear?

Mantra of the week: I will not live in fear.

Reading from the end of the yoga class.

Freedom – When our inner nature is truly free, we find within ourselves a wealth of treasure: love, joy and peace of mind. We can appreciate the beauty o life, taking each experience as it comes, opening our hearts to it and fully enjoying it. Realizing these qualities within ourselves is the greatest freedom than can be gained.
- Tarthang Tulku