Meet the Bristlecone Pine. This species of conifer is one of the oldest on the planet. This beautiful formation caught my eye as I was climbing up the Spanish Peaks in Colorado, and I couldn’t have crossed paths with it at a better time!
Resiliency has been weighing heavy on my mind lately. I’ve been trying to get clear on what helps one person succeed where another person may fall short. Though the Bristlecone Pine may be an unlikely source of inspiration, it brought a new perspective to the subject of resiliency.
Typically, a tree this dead is fragile and ready to fall at the first sign of resistance. Yet, when I touched the smooth, thick trunk, I could tell this was the densest tree out there. Fortunately, I was hiking with someone who was very knowledgeable about the subject matter. I learned that the Bristlecone is subalpine and only grows about 600-700 feet from tree line; home to some of the harshest weather and soil conditions. The density I felt is due to how slow the tree grows. In fact, the growth is so slow that I could barely count the rings on one of the tree’s exposed branches; the layers were so compacted! This tree takes its time so the trunk can be durable enough to be twisted by the winds in this unfavorable environment. While other pines project straight up and shoot out stubby little branches every which way, the Bristlecone is intentional with where it extends branches to ensure the most sun exposure. It also conserves energy by producing needles that can last up to a 30-year cycle. This tree uses efficiency to maximize its efforts of growth and survival.
Another aspect the Bristlecone Pine presents is metrics. It isn’t concerned with appearances; it is driven by results. It strives for function over form and does so one day at a time. It’s those little strategic steps that help the tree succeed. This tree embraces the journey: it makes a plan and then goes with the flow, collects data along the way, and revises the strategy as needed. This little process has earned the Bristlecone Pine the distinction of being one of the oldest living organisms on earth. Striving for perfection is a very unrealistic way for the Bristlecone, or humans, to measure success. All the other trees may be aesthetically appealing with their symmetry and slender form, but the Bristlecone’s visible imperfections are what makes it beautiful and captivating.
Us humans could learn a lot from the Bristlecone Pine. How do you approach a task? Do you see the value in baby steps? Are you willing to pivot when the plan doesn’t go according to plan? How do you define success? If you take one action step towards your goal each day or week, in my book, that means you are winning! Once again, I look to the Bristlecone as a role model. Its attitude towards its environment is, “Bring it!” And that is what can make us successful.
No matter the size of your goal, if you are ready to tackle it, let me be your accountability partner. Together, we will get you across the finish line.
-Wing Woman
Wing Woman 