

Pieces that didn’t define who the Oak was, or had any effect on its ability to stand.Īs humans, we often crave things that we don’t necessarily need. The leaves, limbs and bark were just things. Yet, the tree held on, convinced it would survive. The poem writes how the wind “stole the oak tree's leaves away… then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark”. Lesson #2: Learn to Let Go of Things that Don’t Matter Making time to ensure your physical and mental needs are met is key when it comes to being the best version of ourselves. Self-care activities – such as a massage, yoga or hiking – can also have a powerful effect. You can also practice daily affirmations, prayer and utilize mantras. You can take steps to improve your mindset with mediation and mindfulness exercises, both designed to work our “mental core”. To “water” the soul means to engage in activities that strengthen your mind and improve mental clarity… as well as boost self esteem. The roots grow stronger when you believe in ourselves and have faith in a better tomorrow. The poem seems to resonate with those dealing with illness, adversity and loss.

Life lessons about love and loss, healing and suffering, success and failure. These roots are symbolic of the lessons we’ve all learned since childhood. Lesson #1: Water Your Soul and Keep the Faith So this is what I learned from The Oak Tree poem. If our soul is craving guidance or inspiration – a sign, if you will – this will definitely impact the way we react to something we read… or hear or see. Much of the act of interpretation is driven by mindset. Sure, there may be similarities, but each person will get what they want and need from it. Rarely will two people take away the exact same message from what they read. Like any piece of literature or poetry, The Oak Tree poem is open to interpretation. I'm stronger than I ever knew Lessons Learned from The Oak Tree Poem Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark Lesson #3: You are Stronger than You Realize.Lesson #2: Learn to Let Go of Things that Don’t Matter.Lesson #1: Water Your Soul and Keep the Faith.A cancer survivor and devout Catholic, she was filled with conviction – just like The Oak Tree. I had a tear in my eye after reading it for the first time yesterday… as my aunt passed away unexpectedly just last week and was one of the strongest people I knew. It often appears on support group message boards, as the poem seems to resonate with those dealing with illness, adversity and loss. It has inspired many people, including myself, with its words of encouragement and emphasis on resilience. The Oak Tree was written by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr. The Giving Tree, sure… but The Oak Tree, no. Intrigued because I somehow had never read it… it slipped under my radar. So when my publisher posted an assignment to talk about life lessons learned from the The Oak Tree poem, I was intrigued. From a teenager, I knew that I wanted to turn writing into a career and always took pride in the amount of books, poems and stories I had read. Many moons ago, I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Film Studies (with a minor in children’s literature) because I enjoyed reading and writing that much. Please do your own research before making any online purchase. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy.
