When the World's on Fire — Be a Sequoia

I’m happiest on a forest trail inhaling the pine-scented air and wandering aimlessly. When a breeze rustles the overhead leaves and squirrels zip around in the undergrowth, a sense of peace settles upon me. Every time I hike in nature, I swear I’m ready to move to a mountainside off the grid or build a cabin in the remote wilderness. The wonder and beauty of our world fascinates me, and I hope to experience every aspect..

On a recent trip to Yosemite National Park and Calaveras Big Trees State Park, I fell in love with the Sequoia trees. The massive trees are thousands of years old and can grow up to 300 feet tall. I can use every adjective to describe them such as majestic, magnificent, and awe-inspiring, but the words aren’t good enough. Mostly, I stood with my mouth gaping open in awe.

This is “Grizzly” in Yosemite. It is a massive giant right out of a fairy tale and has lived 2700 years.

Looking up constantly, but the photos don’t do the trees justice.

I spent a lot of my time looking up during the trip, but the kink in my neck was worth it.

Being surrounded by massive sequoias has a way of making you realize how small you are in a big world.

This picture was taken while lying on my back!

So big!

And the stars in the sky blazed like a light show.

Sequoia trees have persevered for centuries by protecting themselves from the environment. Wildfires often rage through their habitats, but they’ve adapted for survival. Traits that help Sequoias survive wildfire include:

Their bark is 3-feet thick to insulate the tree and withstand the heat of a wildfire.
Their limbs stretch high into the sky and their lowest branches cannot be reached by ground fire.
Deep roots stablize a burned tree and can access water deep in the earth.
Serotinous cones – Their cones rely on fire to open and release seeds. They need fire!
They live in fire-prone areas and the wildfires clear the underbrush to elminate competing plants.

On a random stroll down the trail, I realized we can learn from the Sequoias. Obviously, they’re doing something right in order to live so long and reach such heights. I couldn’t help making an analogy to the current state of anger and unrest in the world to a wildfire. What would a Sequoia do?

Develop a thick skin. Polite conversation on diversive topics can be hard to tackle, so we need to let insults roll off our skin to protect ourselves. Shielding yourself from the fires of negativity and hate will help you survive.
Hold your head high. No one can bring you down. Stand tall and know who you are as the fire rages below.
Rely on your roots. Friends and family are the roots who can ground you and provide support when the fire rages.
Grow from interactions. Just as a wildfire is necessary to release sequoia seeds, we can grow from stressful situations. When surrounded by flames, reflect on who you are and what you believe. Listen with an open mind in order to grow.
When living in a fire-filled area (😊) I wouldn’t recommend clearing the underbrush like the sequoias do, but survival depends on adapting to stressors. Don’t be quick to judge, be willing to listen, and stand for what you believe.

Sequoia trees tackle each environmental stressor with multiple adaptations and tools, and we can too. Stand tall and don’t hesitate to take a walk in the woods!