Lessons from Nature: Flexibility

    Reading the title itself must have made you curious. Yes! It’s about flexibility, literally and metaphorically. The next question that arises is, is flexibility here about the yoga asanas or a virtue? Yes, it is about the virtue, I believe like other virtues flexibility too helps us to live better lives and also improve the lives of those around us.

    It has taken me quite a few days to come to the conclusion that you’ll find as you continue reading. Most of my learning or reflections are sudden insights but this has come out of a lot of observation. There are mostly strong winds here at my week-long temporary abode. The mighty winds make even the strongest trees sway according to their tune. The tiny ones are really at the mercy of the wind and are turned and tossed as it commands them. I saw them, pitied them and called them weak. Ironically the next morning they stand tall once again. Later during the day, I saw a man clearing up the wild growth of weeds, but he ignores these tiny plants, firstly because they look beautiful and secondly because they are weak and tiny and anyone could walk past them or trample them easily.  While focusing his attention on the more rough and harsh plants, the man stamped over these tiny plants. When I revisited the place the same evening I saw these plants standing tall again and I was surprised.

    Lightning, thunder and heavy rain all night, the destruction was massive. Huge trees were uprooted and were kissing the ground in the morning when I saw them. The strong flow of water had washed down the soil from the hills and flooded the plains. Though I enjoyed the rain and the cool all night, I was unhappy with the destruction. I came out for a walk more out of curiosity than routine. I saw the tiny plants and the long blades of grass completely flat as the water had found its way over them to nearby ponds and rivers. Finally, everyone succumbed to the pressure of the rain and the wind. I went back as it was still cold and a little windy.

    The sun began shining brightly by 11 am, I came out once again and to my astonishment, these plants with the tiny yellow flowers were standing tall once again, not as beautiful as before but they were standing. These tiny beautiful yellow flowers are wild but they can beautify any garden or bouquet. They shine as the sun shines, sway as the wind blows, grow as the rain pours, and withstand practically anything because they are flexible.

    We need to be flexible to the changes around us. We often make our lives miserable because we always want things to happen and for people to behave the way we want. We sometimes need to bend and bow so that we can stand again. We often are crushed and destroyed because we are not humble enough to accept other person’s points of view and in the bargain, we are sometimes so miserable that we are unable to rise again. Oh gosh! These cows are marching towards me….. they just trampled over these plants. They aren’t broken they are standing once again. These plants are amazing.

    Moral: Let us be flexible so that we can, not just survive but also thrive.