SOC Writing_ 24 December 2020

I am an olive tree

They do not produce oranges, do not produce apples, produce - make in their likeness the only thing they can – and they commit to it – double down on all the juice flowing through them to be the one thing they can be. This is like me – so many years trying to be another species, genius, race – but only can be me. Like realising one day this profound fact is a sigh of relief and then a question: how can I be my best olive tree (I love olives and their groves you see)? How can I cultivate myself to be fully, authentically me? This question years on – still promotes a sort of – really?? An astonishment – still needing permission to be all that I can be – but don’t you want a different flavour? – you said I was too much, too little – too weak – too strong – I heard many voices, many voices when I was young and not so young – spare the young in this day – you can be a complete everything you are told – sold on Craig’s List – your body, soul, spirit – what value does soul have on this open market? Can you cultivate that which has no market value, no societal value? – you can. And you will as you tap into that root that has been you mainstay since childhood – that essentially olively you – that oily viscous, delicious, unctuous you that has been there all along. So yes, you can cultivate that which has value firstly to you, and then, and then - there will be others who find you precious, wonderful – needful for this world – and they will find you – just as you have stumbled upon the fact that you no longer need to try – to try to be other – to look to your mother (many faced she may be) - but to that quiet stalk of your own vine – tree - rooted deep – deep in cosmic dust – coming to this place – fruiting your fruit in season and now aware of how many delicious things you can be – so many table delights – so many seasonings – your own forest of treasure all bound up in that little seed that had your name on it from the very beginning.