Truth is, tree hugging being or not being connected to my work as a creativity coach didn’t cross my mind when I embarked on this adventure otherwise known as a three-year-connected adventure of hugging trees from the United States, coast to coast.
Many of my peers are obsessed with only creating niche related content. I am not.
Emphasizing my daily tree hugging for nearly a year is definitely not within the standard realm of my profession.
I was simply looking for a way to continue feeling better after surviving a near-death experience. The first year after sepsis and Valley Fever almost killed me, I wrote haiku. This helped me start and continue to write daily, a practice I gave up in the hospital and was difficult returning to afterwards.
I didn’t know when I started that practice that we would be reeling from a pandemic and ordered to stay in place and physical closeness became something rare except for those we were quarantined alongside in our homes or small groups.
Tree hugs became a way to continue healing both of myself and reaching energetically to people I wouldn’t be able to reach otherwise.
It is sort of how my writing aesthetic works: I love words and I love the people who read my words. I don’t only write about writing or creative practices. Truth be told, often times my best ideas and insights and a-ha’s come when I am tromping around on walks or hikes or sitting in diners, rummaging through book shops or used book stores or hugging trees.
I love the people in my courses, classes and workshops. I love the people who I work with as a writing and creativity coach. I love trees. I love dark skies with stars calling out, their bright light taking my breath away.
Sometimes, when we are all courageous enough, we allow our words to flow out into the world with intentions for soul connection and expansion of love and confidence and the ever-wished-for optimism which for many has evaporated completely.
I’m coming to the end of my original tree hugging goal and I may revise the goal, to continue hugging trees adding 100 tree hug days (when I hug one-or sometimes more) daily.
Since December 21, 2020, tree hugging has….
- Given me a task to do each and every day – sometimes it was “on the way” and sometimes it WAS the way (when I may have stayed closed up indoors, it gave me a reason to get out.)
- Connected me to people in different ways, even inspiring some people to hug trees for the first time and then share those hugs with me. This has proven how tree hugging is a medicine, especially when many of us weren’t able to hug the people we love.
- Once again I proved to myself how one daily, consistent act has exponential results far beyond what we imagined when I started. Some of the conversations while tree hugging have been priceless. I even made an instagram reel of my 300th tree hug because of what someone said as he “caught me in the act.”
- Tree hugging gave me daily physical time and connection with the divine creator – and helped me to see how when I create, I am honoring the gifts I have been given – especially when I take time to “report back” via social media posts and other random and not-so-random spaces.
What does tree hugging have to do with my niche? Nothing and everything. You tell me.
Julie JordanScott is a multipassionate creative who delights in inviting others into their own fullhearted, artistic experience via her creativity coaching individually or in groups, courses and workshops. To receive inspiring content and videos weekly and find out more about Coaching, Courses, Challenges and what’s going on in the Creative Life Midwife world? Subscribe here:
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This is such a great way to connect in a disconnected world. My husband and I recently had a picnic on the Blue Ridge Parkway under a tree that was hollow in its center. It was big enough to step inside—the first time I was hugged by a tree. I’ll share the photo on our UBC page.
Let your words flow—that’s a perfect niche—you have a gift.
Oh I loved seeing that photo! Now I want to find that tree. I have been hugged by a giant sequoia! I look forward to returning to my favorite trail… unfortunately it was hit by some of the wild-fires from this summer/fall.
Very cool article. It makes me want to photograph a tree every day.
If you decide to do this, I would love to see them. Part of my hug experience has been documentation. I’ve gotten some really interesting shots.
I love trees. They are the greatest teachers and connect us to true LOVE.
Ahhh! We were clearly destined to be friends!
I have so enjoyed your hug a tree photos! They all make me smile!
So interesting to learn more about tree hugging. I have never met anyone who’s a literal tree hugger, so I’m glad I do now!
Do you have “favorite” trees? Special hug experiences? Heading over to your Instagram now.
There are so many favorites and so many unique experiences. My favorite (someone asked me about this recently) type of tree… or most meaningful were parking lot trees in my hometown of Bakersfield trees who were withering and near death from our long lasting drought. Who would expect a tree hugger to love spindly dying trees? This tree hugger would. I also love hugging trees where the communities around them would benefit from the extra love. I plant my feet solidly and hold onto the tree, sending love to the neighborhood through the tree roots, which more than likely connect with other tree roots. So many stories and yes – I have been in tears with emotion and laughed for hours (and days afterwards). Trees have personalities….