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Three Lessons from a Dead Pine Tree

A few weeks ago, we had to have a beautiful, mature White Pine tree cut down. It had died in a combination of not enough water last summer and an insect or disease. Living in Arizona, mature trees are a huge value-add for our property AND take at least 20 years to get big.

I was heartbroken.

And guilty. Because I’M the one in charge of watering our landscaping. And frankly, last summer when the death knoll was rung, I was just too sick, dizzy, and pregnant to attend to this duty. (And Ben was away for work.)

There are some lessons to learn here:

1. Doors do close when you wait too long

I kept thinking: I’ll water it tomorrow. I KNEW that tree was stressed. But it was just “too hard” to go pull the hose out to it.

And now, it’s dead, cut down, and turning back into mulch at the dump. By the time I got around to it, it was too late to save the tree.

So when is it too late to start your book?

Honestly, much like trees, the BEST time to have written your book was “before” – last year, the year before, some time in the past.

And in facing the aftermath of the surgery-gone-sideways last October, I have had a personal glimpse into the danger of “later”.

It is NOT too late to start your book. Now is a PERFECT time.

Made all the sweeter by the knowledge that NOW is the last time you can enroll in the “Finally Write Your Book VIP Mentorship” at the current investment level. Because on May 1, that deal ends and the group will kick off on May 3.

Learn More Here and Enroll

2. Trees, like books, create legacy

We purchased this house six years ago (next month!) partly because of the beautiful mature trees. In fact, when we were touring the house, there was a picture of Mel, the previous owner, crouching next to a freshly planted evergreen tree. Was it THAT tree? I don’t know. But I thank her, and her husband, Burt, for every tree they planted.

Especially when, decades later, MY children are the recipients of a shady place to play.

I never met Burt and Mel. But I know their daughter and niece. (I’ve actually known their niece MOST of my life! Small world!)

These trees and the property are a legacy they left behind.

Books are also a legacy.

Not just the royalties, which are great.

But MOSTLY how you’re leaving behind your words, your message, your heart. How your book can continue to help readers years and decades into the future.

The best part?

You’ll never actually KNOW who you’re helping or how your book has changed their life. But you’ll know it WILL happen.

3. I should have asked for help

I usually don’t do guilt. It’s a useless emotion and I just don’t have time for it. (Don’t even get me started on “mommy guilt”!)

But for this tree, I do feel guilty. For one huge reason:

I could have asked for help.

My across-the-street neighbors have two LOVELY teenagers. Either would have been more than happy to come move the hose for me.

I see my folks every day. They only live a mile away. I could have asked them.

Ben would have moved that hose for me.

ANY of these people would have made it so all I had to do was turn on the water.

But I was so CONSUMED by the idea that I had to do it alone, that it was my “duty” to water the trees, that they’d be bothered by helping me, that I had to SUFFER in the heat, wind, and being pregnant… I let that tree suffer and die.

Why are YOU suffering to write your book? You’ve got a mentor RIGHT HERE who is offering to help you.

And yes, that is a monetary investment. It’s worth it. Your book is worth it. Your message is worth it. Read about the Finally Write Your Book VIP Mentorship and enroll.

After the tree was cut down, we bought two trees to replace it. It’ll be at least 15 years before they are anywhere NEAR mature. But better to get them in the ground NOW than to wait.

Kim Galloway
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