hanging on

you are the

fresh new shoot

budding out

bursting with life

youthful

vigorous

i am the

withered old fruit

hanging on

steeped in wisdom

experienced

enduring

i will

embrace your energy

sidestep your ambition

forgive your

youthful mistakes

encourage you to grow

 

will you

acknowledge my worth

let me keep my dignity

understand my

vulnerability

learn from what i offer

i've patiently waited for over a month to capture the above photo. there are three of these crabapple trees in the secluded courtyard of my workplace. somehow the birds never found the crabapples over the winter and all three trees are still loaded with last year's fruit.  i couldn't wait for the new spring leaves to bud out so i could witness the new co-existing with the old. and, all along i composed in my head the blog post that would accompany the photo. i felt in my heart, the message i wanted to convey. if you're a frequent visitor of this blog you may remember a few posts about trying to survive/compete in a youth-oriented competitive corporate business environment. above is the message i would love to share with my young co-workers. many are wonderfully supportive and team-oriented. others strive to put me in my place, devalue my worth and succeed at others' expense. that competitive spirit often has me questioning my desire to continue on the corporate battlefield. but, most days i find renewed strength to quietly hold on, intelligently fight back and most of all, do it with grace.

whatever stage of life you're in, i hope you'll find it in your heart to have compassion for others. without compassion, your life will be much less fulfilling and memorable. you may succeed but at what price?