Renewal brings persistence, persistence to become who you are intended to be at every age. What better example than the oak tree?

They say that the great oak tree is just a little nut that held its ground.  I love the image of the little nut, the acorn, that held its ground against all odds. It fell from the tree and eventually cracked open as a spout that began to shoot out and find its way into the earth.

Oak trees are indeed persistent. It can live 200 years or more and will only begin to produce acorns after 25 – 50 years. Even when an oak tree lives to 100 years of age and slows down, it will continue to produce over 2,000 acorns annually.

The Seven Sisters Oak is the largest certified southern live oak tree, and is located in Louisiana, USA. It is believed to be about 1,500 years old. Its trunk measures 38.9 feet (11.9 meters) in circumference; is 68 feet tall and has a branch spread of 139 feet.

The Celtic meaning for the oak tree is one of wisdom and towering strength. Ancient Celts honored the oak for its endurance and noble presence.

For me, the oak tree also symbolizes age-esteem. It holds strong in all circumstances, spreads its branches as widely as possible to offer shade and shelter with purpose.  And, no matter how rude the winter may have been, it wears a new suit of leaves every spring and new buds of acorns.

Bonnie Fatio

As the days grow longer, spark your curiosity by visiting parks or taking a nature walk, even if only in your backyard. When you set your inner child free with curiosity, you will discover that curiosity is a key ingredient for learning.

It is no surprise that we are more likely to remember what we have learned when the subject matter intrigues us, but it turns out that curiosity also helps us learn information we don’t consider all that interesting or important.

Did you know that those who are curious may also actively seek out challenges and new experiences to broaden their horizons?

Take a journal outside with you. Sketch the creepy crawlers; spiders, caterpillars, grasshoppers, ladybugs, and begin to form questions about each one. How many different types of caterpillars are there? What do they eat? Why are they fantastically beautiful?

Remember that AgeEsteemers continue to ask questions and think critically about the world around them because a curious mind continues to grow, even as the body ages.

Does winter seem to drag on with its uncomfortable chill and darker days? No matter how long the winter may seem, spring is just around the corner and the days will become longer and brighter.

With Spring’s unique energy you are offered the opportunity to renew parts of yourself that are hungry for growth.

Here are some ideas to let go of the old and make room for the new:

Get some fresh air and sunshine. Consider going for a stroll at a plant nursery and soak in all of the color and scents the flowers have to offer. Visit a farmers market and taste the freshest fruit the season as to offer. Begin to eat your meals outside again and appreciate the sound of a light breeze through your garden.

Celebrate with a family gathering. What a great time to call the grandkids and invite them over for a backyard party; bubbles and all.

Invest in a bird feeder for bird watching. Bird watching is fun for all ages and can be very educational. You’ll be amazed at the family discussions, research and excitement coming with seeing a new bird at your feeder.

Plant an herb garden. A modest herb garden provides not only gardening fun, but also healthy and tasty ingredients for your favorite dishes.

“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.” – M. Scott Peck

I encourage you see the hints of Spring all around you and renew the parts of yourself that are hungry for growth!

Spring is a time of rebirth and new beginnings.

Spring offers us a message of renewal.  It is the time of year when ice melts and trees and flowers begin to bud with the promise of glorious blooms in the Northern Hemisphere.

This is also an ideal time for each of us to review our own areas for renewal and ask some powerful questions regarding our life.

Offer yourself time to review and renew by asking yourself the following questions.

• What desires and dreams have you been incubating during these fallow months of winter?
• Which of these do you want to nourish and grow?
• How can you help your dreams bloom into their full reality?

It is never too late to start something new.  No matter what your age. – Now is the time!

Bonnie Fatio