Sobriety Tree

[change4penny]

I've been doing o.k. after the major 'craving incident' a couple days ago. I appreciate all who helped pull me through. I've never had such a group of friends such as all of you. You don't have an agenda, just my best interest at heart and for that, I love you.
So, I've been doing a lot of yard work to keep me busy and my mind off of 'bad things' and I've come up with an idea that I'd like to share with you...I'm going to plant a 'sobriety tree'.
It's gonna be a symbol of my recovery. Nurturing it and watching it grow will remind me that I have to take care of myself and my recovery because if I don't I will also wilt and die. The tree will be where I go and sit to gather my thoughts and meditate. As it grows, I will sit by it and think about where I used to be and how far I've come. Everyday it will be a reminder of my life and what my life means now without drugs. That just like the tree, my recovery needs nurturing and care in order to be healthy and grow and to have a long life.

I'm not sure about what kind of tree I want to plant, but I'd love any suggestions ya'll might have.

Love ya'll, mean it!

Penny

[bugsmum]

penny,

What a wonderful idea! A sobriety tree... brilliant!

I really enjoy doing yard work also. I was one of those weird kids that actually enjoyed mowing the lawn and pulling weeds when I was younger. There is much to be said for looking and a job 'well done' and the personal satisfaction it can bring.

I hope your able to choose the perfect kind of tree. If I come up w/ any suggestions, I'll let you know.

Take care of yourself and your beautiful little tree.

[Believe808]

Penny a Sobriety tree is such a great idea. I planted a beautiful tree a couple of years ago its called a Fringe tree. When it blooms it looks so beautiful. I found a picture of one.

[SteppingItUp]

I LOVE this idea. What a fabulous plan you've worked out, lovely Penny!

I've got some ideas for trees I'd love to sit under any day:

Weeping Willows (the ultimate in thinking, reading and cloud-watching trees)
Olive trees (if olive branches are a symbol of peace, think about how much peace you get with a whole olive tree, Lol. I've got an old one and a young one in my own courtyard garden.)

Wonderful garden trees:

Cherry trees
Peach trees

(Worth it just for the blossoms, but the fruit is a lovely bonus. Just watch for fallen peaches and cherries if you plan on sitting under them, Lol.)

A giant oak wouldn't be a bad idea either. It depends on the size of land you want to use and how much time you're willing to give it. ; )

You might want to hop over to your local nursery to find out what works best with your soil and climate.

I'm still so frocking proud of you Penny!!

[Stagebear]

I love your idea, Penny, presuming you're a good gardener. Unfortunately, with my brown thumb, my sobriety tree would become sobriety mulch all too soon. But...at least then I could spread it around huh?

[serenityqueen]

That, without a doubt, is one of the most endearing tributes to Recovery that I have ever heard. I love it. I hope you have the yard/land/area to make this dream come true.

I'm a renter in a small apt so something like that is out of the question. But I do have something that I have been able to watch grow and to nurture as well. I've shared this before, but when I was a few months into my Recovery, I wanted to get a kitten. I thought that I was now responsible enough to take care of one. I went to pick one out from a friend of a friend who's cat had kittens that were ready for adoption. After I picked out the fuzzball I wanted, on my way out the door, I asked the woman if she remembered the date the kittens were born. She went into the kitchen and checked her calendar and much to my surprise, she said July 25. . . he was born on the day I was reborn! So me and my cat have grown together. We both have our quirks, our unique characteristics that make us our own individuals.

I hope you are able to find the perfect tree to represent your rebirth. God Bless you Hon.

Hugs,
Judy

[Stagebear]

We have this purple plant...I forget what it's called. My DP is the plant guy, so I pay little attention. Anyway, this thing was neglected through the winter as we were otherwise focused on me and my "issues". The poor thing wilted to a few dry branches, nothing. But my DP refused to give up and watered it anyway. Lo and behold...it bloomed.

Now, I'm not a "miracles" kind of guy. I don't need to believe G*d brought it back to life, as I'd prefer he work in Darfur on a few starving orphans. But it did remind me that anything is possible in nature. My DP didn't give up on me and it appears I blossomed. So did the plant.

Thus ending my botanical analogies for the remainder of the day, I remain,

[foglift]

Regardless of whatever you decide to plant, may you both grow in strength and beauty. Great idea Penny.

[anvilhead]

oh this is better than thinking up baby names!!!! what a singularly SPLENDID idea Penny!!!! as a side note, the heart stone in my avatar was unearthed from our back yard the other day during hank's "big dig" project....it's become MY touchstone, talisman.....

this link might be helpful....it's about the "spiritual" meaning of trees....

Tree Symbolism, Forest Symbolism, Meaning of Trees

[SpeedyJason]

I like Ohio Buckeye trees (you know, the ones where the big brown things fall off) but since you'll be sitting underneath it, it's probably not the best idea

Silver Maples are nice..

[change4penny]

Thanks guys for the input. I live on about 22 acres of land so space is of no concern. We have a pond and I like going down by there to just sit and think sometimes, so I'm thinking of planting one close by the pond. I love japanese maples. They have beautiful red leaves.
I'm going to go to Home Depot and ask for some suggestions also.

I'm excited!

Penny

[SteppingItUp]

Japanese Maples are just beautiful! There is one outside my bedroom window in the house where I grew up. I could never get tired of looking at it.

I can't believe this didn't cross my mind the first time I posted, but there is a very big and very special tree that is exactly associated with meditation. It's called the Banyan, and it's in the fig tree family. Not only is it considered sacred, but it's also deeply rooted in the history of enlightenment. In English, its name can be translated into the "wish fulfilling divine tree."

I'm still unsure if I can post links here or what the rules are in terms of coping and pasting, but you can google it for more info. Just know that they're big, expanding trees, so you would need to reserve a good plot of land for it to reach its potential.

[northbelle]

Poppies......I think I may plant a field of poppies out in the yard this year!~!!! Thanks for this idea...a symbol of my recovery!!!
love north

[SpeedyJason]

Originally Posted by SteppingItUp

I can't believe this didn't cross my mind the first time I posted, but there is a very big and very special tree that is exactly associated with meditation. It's called the Banyan, and it's in the fig tree family. Not only is it considered sacred, but it's also deeply rooted in the history of enlightenment. In English, its name can be translated into the "wish fulfilling divine tree."

Aren't Banyan trees native to Australia? I think those are the trees that look like they have 5 trunks right? With the branches that all spread out and grow roots that make it look like another trunk?
I don't think they'd grow in the US very well...

I think a Japanese Maple would be the way to go.

[change4penny]

Yep, I think that I'm gonna go with a Japanese Maple. My dad has a couple in his yard and they seem to do well in this area.
My husband is coming home from Michigan today, so I'm gonna tell him about my idea for a "sobriety tree" and see if he wants to go to with this weekend to pick up a tree.

Who would've thought last year at this time I would be where I am today. I am sooo very grateful to wake up every morning and not HAVE to grab a pill bottle in order to even get out of bed. Not to feel like crap because I'd been up most of, if not all night long smoking cocaine. Or going to bed so disgusted with myself and my life...praying not to wake up. What a sad person I was. I ask myself, "how could you ever 'crave' that drug again?" I mean, what is that makes me think of using like I did the other day, when I'm so happy to be clean?

Love ya'll

Penny

[Believe808]

Japanese Maple is a great idea. How sweet you will be able to grow along side of it.

[SteppingItUp]

Interesting...

I've always known banyans as Indian trees (the banyan is actually the national tree of India), but I have since found pictures of other banyan species in Florida and Italy. Since it's a meditation tree, I thought is was worth mentioning here. I also have doubts about North Carolina's ability to handle this warm weather tree, but it might be worth asking about at the nursery just the same. Another thing to consider is its size; banyans can grow to become enormous, but that's not necessarily a bad thing either. It depends on what you're looking for (apart from what will actually grow in the region).

Again, for the record, Japanese maples are stunningly beautiful trees; they're also less invasive and much more easily managed.

From Wiki on the banyan -- (if I can't post this just say so or delete it)

Ornamental Value:

Due to the complex structure of the roots and extensive branching, the banyan is extensively used for creating Bonsai. Taiwan's oldest living bonsai is a 240-year-old banyan housed in Tainan.[citation needed]

Religion and mythology:

* In Hinduism, the banyan tree is considered sacred and is called "Ashwath Vriksha." God Siva as Dakshinamurthy is nearly always depicted sitting in silence under the banyan with rishis at His feet. It is thought of as perfectly symbolizing eternal life due to its seemingly unending expansion.
* Also in Hindu culture, the banyan tree is also called kalpavriksha meaning 'wish fulfilling divine tree'. In modern parlance in the Hindi language, it is known as Bargad, Vatavriksh, and Barh.
* In Buddhism's Pali canon, the banyan (Pali: nigrodha)[7] is referenced numerous times.[8] Typical metaphors allude to the banyan's epiphytic nature, likening the banyan's supplanting of a host tree as comparable to the way sensual desire (kāma) overcomes humans.[9]
* In many stories of Philippine Mythology, the banyan, (locally known as balite) is said to be home to a variety of spirits and demon-like creatures (among the Visayans, specifically, dili ingon nato,meaning "things not like us"). Maligno (Mystical creatures) associated with it include the kapre (a giant), dwende (dwarves), and especially the tikbalang (a creature whose top half is a horse and whose bottom half is a human). [10]
* In Guam, 'Chamorro people believe in tales of taotaomona, duendes and other spirits. Taotaomona are spirits of the ancient Chamorro that act as guardians to banyan trees.[11]

There are many banyan species, including:

* Ficus microcarpa, which is native from Sri Lanka through New Caledonia and is a significant invasive species elsewhere.
* The Central American Banyan (Ficus pertusa) is native to Central America and northern South America, from southern Mexico south to Paraguay.
* The Shortleaf Fig (Ficus citrifolia) is native to southern Florida, the Caribbean Islands, Central America and South America south to Paraguay. One theory is that the Portuguese name for F. citrofolia, "Os Barbados", gave Barbados its name
* The Florida Strangler Fig (Ficus aurea) is also native to southern Florida and the Caribbean Islands, and distinguished from the above by its coarser leaf venation.
* The Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla) and Port Jackson Fig (Ficus rubiginosa) are other related species.


Picture of a banyan:
http://areason2write.files.wordpress...4/img_7796.jpg

A picture of a banyan growing on a bank:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...kwasla_Dam.jpg

[SteppingItUp]

Okay, I wrote my last post without reloading the page...

Japanese maple it is! Great choice, Penny!