Like the branches of a tree…
Photo by Arnaud Mesureur on Unsplash
Did you know that da Vinci observed that the branches of a tree, put altogether, equal the width of the branch from which they come? So, in other words, if you cut a tree branch and then cut all the branches growing from it, the total cross section of the baby branches would add up to the cross section of the mother branch. Isn’t that just fantastic?!? (paraphrased from the book, The Language of Trees, by Kate Holten).
What a metaphor for life, right? It makes me think of teams and the importance of teamwork. And that the leader is only as strong as the team itself.
My friend Megan of @imaginethatnmore recently held a book launch in her quilt shop and creative maker’s space for my book The Story of Your Quilt. I was humbled and honored to be offered this opportunity even though I no longer consider public speaking to be “in my wheelhouse.” In other words, I was a complete nervebag leading up to the evening. As I’ve heard another instagram friend ( @p._Marin ) describe, it was a process by which I grew some new stretch marks.
And stretching is something I’ve always left to chance. As much as I like to work out, the slow and deliberate process of stretching afterward feels good, but my mind is usually in race mode so slow just isn’t my speed. Here’s the thing, I know it’s as good for me as the workout itself. Maybe even better. But tell that to my monkey mind.
The days before the book launch, I found myself nervous, edgy and even downright irritable. When I wasn’t quiet from speechlessness due to excessive worrying, I was talking too fast and hard and snapping at my poor husband. I was, in just a few words, a bear to live with.
Then the day approached and it seemed nothing more could go wrong. My nephew, Joseph, was going to travel up from South Carolina to attend but had to cancel last minute as did my aunt who was a big part of the publication. When I got to Megan’s quilt shop, I realized at the last minute I’d forgotten all of my sample journals, one of which I’d intended to read from. There was a heavy snowfall that evening and it was a record breaking cold. Never mind that we’d only had two real snowfalls all winter and the second happened to be that night!
My husband drove home in that snow and retrieved my journals in the nick of time though and even though Joseph and my aunt weren’t there, many others braved the cold and snow to be there. The amplifier system worked without a hitch and I had people there who were willing to participate in the discussion. Even an expert storyteller and a few award-winning quilters!
Why oh, why did I worry myself sick over this most engaging evening? Call it habit, muscle memory or whatever else you’d like. My point is, when I stretch, I usually don’t regret it afterward.
And how about the team that helped to make my book launch possible? Kudos to the event planner, Lori Huffman, who made sure I had every little thing I needed to make the night a success. The rest of the staff, including Zoe, Karol with a “K”, Beth, Daquina, Blake, and especially Megan ( @meganhsorn )made the night one to remember. I’m not sure I know which of us was the mother branch but all of us added up to make one great cohesive team. And I am so appreciative of all the support.
If you haven’t gotten your copy of The Story of Your Quilt yet, you can purchase it here!