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You are here: Home / Blog / The power of one

The power of one

At a stop light, I scanned my surroundings and noticed a group of trees. There was a tall skinny palm in a group of indigenous trees. It was remarkably different than the others; skinny thin and towering above everything. I couldn’t help but wonder how one lone, fragile tree grew to be so abnormally tall.

My mind immediately connected the scene of opposites to real life. The power of one.

We can believe there is nothing we can do or say to make a positive difference in the world. How wrong we are. This lone palm only did what it was intended to do; stay alive and grow. But, it did the job better than the others. Other palms looked stronger and healthier, but this one rose above the norm with seemingly less support.

The picture in my mind of the roadside landscape is food for thought on how nature compares to life. My sister Zella comes to mind. She is frail and has many health problems, but she lives and grows. Along with her positive attitude and determination, she sets the bar high for the rest of us.

When I see her, awe engulfs me. Her lifestyle is below the norm. Her financial situation causes high stress, she is physically unable to complete daily tasks to her standards, and she is never free of pain. Yet, her contagious laugh never ceases as she recalls years of family history, speaks of the political situation, shares a wealth of information from TV and magazines, and tells endearing stories about every single item in her home. She is a hoot. 

Like the tree, she is a living example of the power of one. The fact she is living on her own, loves her family and cares for her cats,  daily nurtures a circle of friends who help her with maintenance and errands, and is as happy an anyone I know, makes her an anomaly.

Like the skinny thin towering palm tree, she rises above expectations and environmental challenges with grit. Where does she get it, and how does she keeps it? I don’t know. I have more of everything, yet I would be hard-pressed to match her legacy.

God Bless her.

Filed Under: Blog, Dr. J's personal stories Tagged With: anomaly, awe, grit, power of one, sister

Comments

  1. Geri says

    April 24, 2018 at 5:46 pm

    What a beautiful loving tribute to your sister. She has my prayers for her health.

  2. Jennifer Goble says

    April 24, 2018 at 5:55 pm

    Thanks, Geri. She is a marvel, and I too pray for her health. I help her when I’m in AZ, but in truth, she helps me.

  3. Marva says

    April 25, 2018 at 12:53 am

    Well said, Jennifer!

    • Jennifer Goble says

      April 25, 2018 at 5:23 am

      Thanks, Marva Lee. As you know, she is a marvel…a miracle of sorts:)

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Jennifer Goble, Ph.D. is a rural mental heath therapist, author, columnist, and speaker. Her primary purpose in counseling and writing is to help women and families in rural communities.

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