Welcome! This is the eighth part of a ten-part Video and Blog Post Series, aligned with the songs on “Songs for Tree”. You can find an overview and all of the other posts to date in this series here. Let’s explore the power of song to connect children with the land!
Music Video
Here is the lyrics video! It features my dear friend, Joy the Robin.
Introduction
“Calm Like Tree” is the sister song to “Bend, but not Break” from the album Songs for Tree. “Bend” is for singing in the Fall and “Calm” is for the Spring. Both songs are about the strength and resilience of trees, and connect children with how trees can help us learn how to get through hard moments in our lives.
I use these songs to support conversations with children around mental health. I shared about this from my perspective in Part 5 of this Video and Blog Series, when I shared “Bend, but not Break” in the Fall. If you check out that post, you will find ideas to use this song to support children with conversations about mental health. These same ideas are easily transferable to “Calm Like Tree”, and so I won’t repeat myself here. Instead, in this blog post, I offer you something different and special: a guest blog post, written by my daughter.
I asked my ten-year-old daughter if she might share her perspective on her connection with nature, and how trees support her mental health. She was up for the challenge, and so this month I am stepping aside so that we might hear and learn from her. In her post, my daughter shares with us how she feels when she is outside, and how her relationship with trees has supported her and helped her learn to navigate difficult times. It’s fascinating to learn from her about how this relationship is also the foundation of her desire to take good care of the land.
I hope you will be inspired by her words, as I am. And I hope that you will find that “Calm Like Tree” is a support that you can use to help you explore these ideas with the children in your life.
Alright, time to pass the mic!
Guest Blog Post
When I go Outside and play, I feel Calm. If I’m feeling a hard feeling, the Great Outdoors Helps Me Calm down and have lots of fun. Sometimes I have a hard time concentrating or I’m Anxious, but Being Outside helps me focus on things like my grip on the Tree or the scratching of the grass along my Leg, as well as other senses like smell and sight, instead of my Feelings. 🌲🌳🍃
Trees Help Me Feel Stronger. If I start Climbing a Tree, I Feel like I should stop and Climb Down because I’m afraid I will fall. But, if I just ignore that and keep climbing, I’m doing something out of my comfort zone, which I do not like doing most of the time. But Trees are always stepping out of their comfort zone by not stopping Growing and keep Growing taller, so I want to be like the Trees and not stop. When I do that, I feel like I am so Strong and Powerful. Trees can be high, but I’m always Determined to Climb Them. My Mom or Dad will take pictures of Me High up in Trees, and with a Huge Smile on. When I’m up high, I Feel like I can see the whole World!! Anybody and Everybody should Climb Trees and go as high as They are Comfortable with.🌳🌲🌿
Trees have Taught Me that it’s Okay to be Different. They will always all be different, like Us. Every Tree has a different Bark, all different kinds of Texture. Each Tree I touch will always be a feeling I will always remember. They are Different, like Us. They have Taught me that even if someone calls you a loser, an idiot or “uncool”, Just because that Person said that does not mean that those things are true. It means I’m Different and I Know that is Okay. We’re all Different. 🍁🍂🍃
I think Everybody and Anybody should get Outside in any Season and make SnowPeople in Winter, jump in Puddles in Spring, Swim and Play in Summer, jump in huge Leaf piles in Fall, and Climb Trees in any Season. I think People should do that because Trees are like a Family Member. They always make You feel like You Belong, because You do!! They never stop Hugging You Unless You have to keep walking.
Because Trees are Like Family, I think we should protect Them. Trees are a very Important part of Our Ecosystem, Like Animals And Human Beings. We should Treat Trees like An Important Being, Because They are. NOW LET’S GO OUTSIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🌱🌿🌳
Final Thoughts & Support
I hope you’ve enjoyed this special post by my daughter and have been inspired. I know I certainly am. I thank her for her time and hard work to share these thoughts with us.
“Calm Like Tree” can support you in navigating conversations about mental health with the children in your life. I am thinking of a moment we recently had, where my daughter and I stood alongside the creek, under giant cedars, and sang “Calm Like Tree” together. It was a moment of connection and gratitude for the wonder of nature and the powerful role it plays in our lives. We walked away, reflecting together and talking about many things that my daughter shared here with you today.
If this post has sparked some ideas for you, please feel welcome to drop a comment or send me a note! I’ll also happily pass along any messages to my daughter, too!
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Thank you for being here and taking the time to take in this work. I hope it sparks some fun and wonder in your days.
Warmly,
Tiiu
Land Heart Song 