Le Weekly #7 – Impactful Leaf 🍃
One quote, one shoutout, one story, one neigh from Philosophical Horse and one question.
Greetings everyone. Welcome to Le Weekly!
Take a moment to reflect on each snippet. Comment your thoughts below.
Le Quote 🗣️
“Sometimes you need to hold… before you engage” – Andrew Gray.
Le Shoutout 🧣
Andrew Gray has a passion for sports and exercise. As a registered biokineticist, he has travelled the world, training and rehabilitating professional and school-going athletes alike.
In 2020, a successful ankle operation meant I qualified to rehabilitate under Andrew’s watchful eye.
My ankle recovered slowly but swiftly. I started running again. I started hiking again. I started living again.
I still go to Andrew every Tuesday for maintenance. It has become clear that he offers more than just physical guidance; he has helped rehabilitate my heart, mind and soul, too.
Shoutout Andrew.
Le Story ✍️
The other day, mid-conversation, someone said:
“I’m convinced that life is a really great idea.”
Life.
Life?
Initially, I thought they meant living, but it turns out they meant this thing we all experience together.
They continued:
“Look around us. Look at everything happening. Look at everyone experiencing the world in their unique way. To think we are all experiencing this together at the exact same time but completely differently. Whoever came up with this all… Whoever came up with life… they created something really great.”
I agreed.
Then they asked:
“And you? What convinced you that life is a really great idea today?”
Hmm.
I took note of my current existence and pondered for a moment.
Why do I think that life is a great idea?
I responded something like this:
“Today, I had a nice coffee in the park. While in the park, a leaf fell from the sky. It fell from seemingly nowhere because I was in the middle of an open field. I bent down, picked it up, looked at the sky and said thank you.”
“It felt like the leaf was meant to land on the floor in front of me. It took my mind off whatever I was thinking about. It felt like someone was watching over me. The simple moment strengthened something in me.”
“With the leaf in my hand, I walked over to a nearby stream, dropped it in the flowing water and watched it zoom along its journey.”
“They say gardening is a philosophy that believes in the future. I suppose the same can be said about putting leaves in nearby streams and hoping they reach their final destinations.”
To this, the person responded:
“Could you have been the leaf’s intended destination? It fell for you and became a catalyst for meaningful thought. It became a character in a story, which, proportionality, very few of Earth’s leaves ever accomplish. What more could a lost little leaf ask for?”
What more could a lost little leaf ask for, indeed? Maybe it was meant to fall in front of me.
Wherever the stream took the leaf, I hope it knows the impact it had on me and the role that it played in this very story.
Reflecting on Le Story 💭
Le Story refers to a single leaf. I wonder how the story would differ if we, instead, considered the leaf to be one of many leaves produced by a single tree.
Perhaps a nearby tree saw me walking through the park. Perhaps a nearby tree decided I needed one of its leaves. Maybe it knew a leaf “falling from the sky” would strengthen something within me. Maybe it knew I’d look at the sky and say thank you.
Perhaps the single leaf from a bigger tree highlights how your small gestures can impact the world.
Imagine you were a tree.
What tree would you be?
What do your “leaves” look like?
What are the “leaves” you could share with others?
For me, my “leaves” are the moments when I acknowledge strangers in public with a simple smile or a solemn nod.
I never know if my “leaves” have any meaningful impact on the people I share them with, but I always hope they help.
Maybe they haven’t felt seen in a while. Maybe they have.
At the very least, someone might see your “leaf” falling from the sky, pick it up, acknowledge it, and place it in a nearby stream for someone else to receive.
Le Neigh from Philosophical Horse 🐴
“Neigh” – Philosophical Horse.
Le Question 🤔
Looking back at 2023, who impacted your life without them really knowing it? Send them a message and say thanks.
Have a great Monday, everyone! Merry Christmas! 🎄
Previous Newsletters:
(Remember to send this to someone who you think would enjoy Le Weekly)
#6 – Vulnerable Ankles 🦵
#5 – Sea Sea TV 📸
#4 – Treadmill Queue 💦
#3 – Lemonade 🍋
#2 – Meat Factory 🥩
#1 – Woolworths Maternitywear 👚
Mike, thank you again for another gentle and gentling read. I was initially worried that you’d take a Festive Season break and I’d miss out on this very thoughtful weekly dose of word-honey. 🙏
Loved this thanks Mike! From this day forward I will view the energy I give off as I go about my day as 'leaves'. Merry Christmas! 🍁