This photo of a young sapling got me thinking the other day of how our growth upward is so closely tied to the roots we put down in our lives.  Strong roots give us the ability to grow tall and reach high places.  That started me thinking about a particular type of tree, the giant redwood, that grows along the coast of Northern California.  The ancient redwood giants are symbols of strength, adaptability, longevity, and beauty. If you have not had the chance to visit the giant redwoods in northern California, it is a trip worth taking. The oldest redwoods are 2500 years old and stand over 300 feet tall. To give you a visual picture, there is one tree trunk I know of that is so big you can actually drive your car right through it. Redwood trees often grow in circles forming giant cathedrals in the forest. When walking among the redwoods you feel a sense of reverence and a spiritual connection to nature. A Redwood grove is a cool and shadowy place where we can recognize our smallness and our greatness all at the same time. You shake the small seeds from the pine cones and cannot help but be awestruck that a gigantic tree sprung forth from something so tiny. What seeds of miraculous possibility reside deep within each of us? How can we reach our own highest potential? Poetically speaking, take some Advice from a Tree and live your true nature. Today and even 2500 years from now, the world will be glad you did.