During my travels around the world, I’ve drawn inspiration from unexpected encounters that I love sharing with you. Sometimes you have to go far away to get closer to the heart of things. This time: ‘If Trees Could Speak’.
Some places and moments offer deeper insights than others. I experienced a moment of crystal-clear inspiration during a stay in California, USA, in 2014. Sitting silently admist the trees for a while, a valuable new connection came to life—one I hadn’t seen before. It made it so clear to me how everything is interconnected, offering a new way of working and living. Just take a look...
I found myself wanting to step into the tree’s skin—or rather, its bark. Imagining myself in that position, I wondered what I would have witnessed over all those days, months, and years if I had eyes. The sun, the rain, people sitting against me with genuine care, or walking past carelessly as if I were just another plant. Perhaps someone even carved a declaration of love into my bark. Or saw my brothers and sisters being cut down—and felt the pain of that. Or embraced me.
What would I have heard if I had ears? The wind, raindrops on my leaves and branches, the birds that spent time with me as their host and home. The people around me—some kind, others arguing. Would they realize someone was listening in? And if there were always something watching and listening, how would they behave?
People being friendly or arguing around me as a tree. Imagine if, instead of just being listened to neutrally and without judgment, I—as a tree—were to speak up and point out the consequences of their ‘own’ behavior: Would they listen to me, learn something, and change their actions to something better or more pleasant? What might I, as a tree, have heard from my ancestors about how my surroundings have changed over the centuries? Who even notices me anymore, now that more and more buildings have sprung up around me? What would I say to people today about how they treat us trees?
This is not a story about sustainability.
It is about a deeper connection—one we have become cut off from—that nature offers us if we open ourselves to it.
Everything is connected. The forms simply differ; the senses and languages of all beings—trees included—vary, which is why we do not always understand one another. The same applies to the people you live or work with.
“Everything is connected with everything"
What would happen if we stepped into each other’s skins more often, even if only for a while? Just as I did with the tree. If we asked questions to better understand one another, engaged in dialogue, and learned a little about each other’s histories, fostering greater understanding of one another’s choices and behavior? At work, with colleagues, clients, and suppliers. At home, with partners, children, family, and neighbors. With one another, across differences in skin color, culture, or religion. What would happen then?
For at our core, we are all the same—equal human beings, each with our own unique school of life and work. From the perspective of universal consciousness (or spirit), there is no difference; in essence, we are all connected.
Try stepping into someone else’s shoes—or the perspective of something else—for longer periods; ask questions and listen with neutral curiosity. I predict you will grow closer and collaborate and live together much more ‘in spirit,’ with all the benefits that brings.
Want to know more about deep listening and finding common ground instead of polarization? Take a look here: Article on Deep Listening: https://martinthoolen.com/en/hoe-diep-luisteren-je-werkelijk-harmonie-brengt/
I wish you wonderful journeys of discovery and a sense of closeness as you get under each other's skin.
Warmly, Martin
Want to see more short inspirations from around the world? Take a look here: https://martinthoolen.com/en/inspiratie/?_categorie_knoppen=wereldinspiraties
© 2026: Martin Thoolen
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