03/23/2026
THE SASSY TREE
"Are you afraid?" asked the tree.
"Afraid of what?" I asked.
"The earth," said the tree, "...because you're covering your roots..."
"Oh, these? They're my shoes. They protect me. I love the earth," I said.
"I think they trap you — cut you off. They look like a prison to me," said the tree.
I put my phone in my pocket and sat down. I untied my shoes and slipped off my socks.
The tree said, "I can see your roots now. They do look tender. Take baby steps."
As I stepped closer to the tree, I could feel my warmth radiate into the cool dirt. By transferring my weight carefully, the earth couldn't bite. Some green blades tickled my ankles and sent a shiver through my body.
"Are you afraid?" asked the tree.
"Afraid of what?" I asked.
"Of being unplugged from your light-up brick," said the tree, "...because you keep checking your pocket..."
The leaves on the tree rustled in the breeze and my nostrils filled with the scent of apple blossoms. I reached out to touch the tree's bark just as a ray of sunlight lit up a patch of leaves, illuminating their veins.
I said, "I was afraid of being lost — of feeling disconnected. But not anymore. I feel ALIVE. Thank you. I think I'll come back tomorrow with a friend and stay a little longer."
Your tree is waiting for you!
Love,
Arielle Eckhaus Welch
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