Scientist Seeking

Galls are little bumps on tree leaves. Abnormal growths, if you will. Insects, bacteria, fungi can create these little lumps that will eventually feed on the leaves of trees. I’ve been thinking a lot about them.

In her book, On Looking: Eleven Walks with Expert Eyes, Alexandra Horowitz remarks that galls seem so destructive to plants. Her walking partner, wildlife ecologist Charley Eiseman points out, “Being deciduous helps: they get to refresh their leaves every year.”

Because a deciduous tree conserves its energy by releasing its leaves and through the winter where the sun is hidden longer and the days are cooler. So the lumps and bumps are temporary. Because there will be a period of cleansing.

I think there is a good lesson in that.

Therapists and witchy-hippy-astrologists will tell you the same thing: you need to let go. Let go of the things that make you unhappy, let go of the pain you’re carrying unnecessarily, let go of the things or people holding you back.

It took ten years before I was able to recognize where a deep friendship had become toxic. It hadn’t always been that way, but did become parasitic. Then it was time to let go. And we, having gone our separate ways, are both better for it.

In fact, maybe a lesson to take is a period of regular cleansing. A season of self reflection that allows us to examine our lumps and bumps, the little ways we protected ourselves, old hurts or triggered responses, that are no longer beneficial to our growth. Let them fall and save that energy for our next season of growing.