The Tree Frog
I almost missed him.
Tucked between two leaves, this little tree frog had found the perfect place for an afternoon nap. While everything around him buzzed with activity, he had apparently decided he’d done enough for one day.
I stood there longer than I probably should have, taking picture after picture, hoping he wouldn’t wake up and hop away. He never did.
It made me smile because the natural world doesn’t seem to apologize for resting.
A tree frog doesn’t worry that someone else is being more productive. It doesn’t push through exhaustion just to prove it can. When it’s time to rest, it rests. Then, when it’s ready, it climbs back into the world and gets on with being a tree frog.
Somewhere along the way, we’ve convinced ourselves that stopping is falling behind. We wear long hours and full calendars like they’re badges of honor, even when they’re quietly draining the joy out of what we love.
Maybe we’ve complicated something that nature never did.
Sometimes the most productive thing we can do isn’t to push a little harder.
Sometimes it’s to find a quiet place between the leaves, close our eyes for a while, and trust that the world will still be there when we wake up.
I smiled, quietly backed away so I wouldn’t disturb him, and continued my walk.
Originally published on DailyPrincipal.com.
Lindsey Korell
CEO & Operational Strategist
What Nature Already Knows Series