I really enjoy watching the Sunday Morning News Programs. It is not something I have always been able to do because for many years I have volunteered as a Sunday School Teacher and Mass Minister. The major networks' Sunday morning programs break down the highlights of the past week's happenings, with a focus on the political world. Occasionally they feature a human interest story and this past Sunday, one of those programs showed a video of several Pandas frolicking together at a zoo. It was pure "pandamonium!" I did not catch the name or location of the zoo or the names of the Pandas. It may very well have been last week's 2nd birthday celebration of the twin panda cubs Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue at the Toronto Zoo in Canada. All I know for sure is that those pandas were having tons of fun and were running and rolling all around their home at the zoo. Those adorable pandas were getting in their daily exercise and having a ball while doing it! Do you think they worry about getting 10,000 steps a day like we do? Is the zoo keeper pushing them to work harder and track their progress? You know they don't have FitBits or Apple Watches strapped onto their legs.
Every video I have ever seen of pandas (and there are a lot of them out there...just go to YouTube and enter "adorable pandas") depicts the carefree, frolicking and fun nature of these beloved animals. They jump on each other, they roll around together, they hug each other and they sure do have a great time! They aren't worrying about how they look, if they have the latest "athleisure" wear, how much faster their neighbor is running, or what their heart rate is. They are just doing their thing and doing it well!
Many of the videos feature the pandas eating their favorite food - bamboo shoots. They really "get after it" and seem to completely enjoy their bamboo meals! It made me wonder all about the bamboo.
I have a personal bamboo story which is that someone once gave me a beautiful bamboo plant. It was a lovely gift because it symbolized good luck and great fortune. I am sorry to tell you that I killed that bamboo plant, not intentionally, of course, nevertheless our mother-plant relationship did not last very long. Since then, I have often thought about that sweet bamboo plant and wanted to know more about how I should have and could have taken better care of its growth.
My two sons seem to know a thing or two about bamboo. They are 14 months apart but for years there has been over a 12 inch difference in their heights. Many people have mistakenly thought that one was three or four years older than the other. Recently, Son#2 has sprouted up in height and is coming close to catching up to his older brother, Son#1. I overheard Son#1 saying to Son#2, "Wow, you have grown so much, so quickly! It's like you are a bamboo plant!" Because of that, I was once again thinking about bamboo. So when I saw the zoo pandas on Sunday morning playing together and enjoying their bamboo, I decided to finally do a little research on the evergreen perennial plant.
What I learned confirmed for me that Son#1 knew what he was talking about....bamboos are some of the fastest-growing plants in the world with certain species having the ability to grow 3 ft within a 24-hour period, at a rate of almost 1.5 inches an hour! Bamboo plants can actually grow as tall as a building! Do you know how long that takes? For the first four years, there is no growth. Even when the plant gets watered and fertilized each year, nothing happens for four years. Then, in the 5th year, the bamboo plant shoots up 90 feet in only six weeks! So if I were to ask you "how long does it take the bamboo to grow 90 feet?", would your answer be "six weeks"? That is what I just told you, right? Wrong. If the bamboo plant hadn't been watered and taken care of during the first four years, it would have died and certainly would not have flourished in year five. What was happening during the four years when it looked as if there was no growth at all? Underground, an extremely large and strong network of roots was developing in order to support the plant's sudden growth.
I think we sometimes forget that growth takes perseverance and patience and that every drop of water and fertilizer contributes to the growth process. I know that Son#2 knew that. Every time someone asked him (and MANY people did) "When are you going to catch up to your brother?", he would patiently and calmly answer "I will get there, I know that I am growing in my own time." What a life lesson wrapped up in the bamboo and in Son#2! We may not always see the changes or the growth, but we have to keep the faith that growth is happening. We expect 'year 5' growth to happen immediately. We forget that it takes time for the roots to take hold and grow. We have to nurture those roots with fertilizer, time, commitment and perhaps the most difficult and yet important thing of all - patience. If we stay committed to achieving our growth goals, we will eventually break through, sprout up, and reach the highest point!
So did I forget to water and fertilize that little bamboo plant all those years ago? Did I get discouraged when I didn't see any growth? I honestly cannot remember. My goals are different now and they include so much more than just keeping the house plants alive. I dream of personal growth and new achievements, particularly in the areas of health, fitness and growing my business. Perhaps I should get a new bamboo plant and watch more panda videos. Then I will be reminded that growth will come in time, I cannot stop watering the bamboo, and I should most definitely have a good time while I am living out the process.
Do you have your own personal growth goals? Will you remember to water your bamboo? I would love to hear your story and as always, I welcome your comments below. And please don't forget, I am here as your Health Coach to help you with that growth and remind you about watering your bamboo!
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