It was awe-inspiring

Colleagues,
 
The most powerful memory from our trip out west was the time we spent among the ancient bristlecone pines at Great Basin National Park. Their silent majesty touched me both emotionally and spiritually.
 
Bristlecone pines live for up to 5,000 years, but the brutal conditions in which they survive causes them to grow extremely slowly and in very strange shapes.

Being among trees that were thousands of years old gave me an opportunity to reflect on my own life. It is so easy to get caught up in the moment and believe that everything we are doing is super important. It’s not. Nothing we do is important. If you are a bristlecone pine.

The point is that there are many things that will be around a long time after we are gone. Yes, helping grow other people (and trees) is meaningful and it is important, but let’s not take ourselves quite so seriously.

​As we begin the fall, remember to take time to live, laugh, and love.
 
Cheers,
 
Frederick