Removing the Dead Wood
There are two dying sycamore trees in our backyard, and they regularly drop their dead limbs in the yard or on the garage roof whenever we have a thunderstorm. Recently, my husband and I decided that it was time we got rid of the trees because we didn’t want to run the risk of having them blow over or drop a large branch on the garage and cause some real damage. We thought we could do it ourselves. A little home improvement self-help. So we rented a bucket lift from the local home improvement store, borrowed a few chainsaws, and invited some friends over for a tree removal party. We thought we had it covered.
But the tree proved to be too large for us to handle on our own. Even with some awesome friends helping. And a bucket lift. And freshly sharpened chainsaws. And by the middle of the afternoon it was crystal clear that we would have to call in a professional to do the job.
What on earth does that have to do with therapy, you ask?
In life we all experience rough times– some big, some small. Typically, we turn to our friends and family for support and advice. We might rely on our spiritual faith to get us through. We might read self-help books, or focus more on practicing good self-care. But sometimes we need to call in the professionals because whatever is going on requires more than we can do by ourselves.
Just like my dying sycamore trees. That dead wood needs to be removed before it does some damage to our property. And the upside to removing those trees? We’ll get to plant new ones that can flourish and benefit the wildlife and my pantry (fruit trees are on order!).
Think about your own life. Do you need to remove some “dead wood”? What could take its’ place if it was no longer there? What would have room to grow? And who can help you? Maybe friends and family and faith and self-help books will be sufficient for your situation. But maybe it’s time to call a professional.
If you’re curious about how music therapy and GIM might be able to help, contact me anytime. I’m always happy to answer questions!
