I originally published this article on PuckerMob in April of 2016! Check out the original article here!

Trees are one of the most integral parts of our day-to-day life.

Whether you work alongside nature or spend all day at an office desk, the oxygen that keeps your mind alive and your body moving comes from these lovely additions to our landscapes.

According to Mike McAliney, "A single mature tree can...release enough oxygen back into the atmosphere to support 2 human beings." So you and your best friend are supported by a single tree.

But there is more than one thing trees do for us.

They teach us valuable lessons, 7 lessons actually.

So rather than leave you "stumped," I will explain the 7 things trees have taught me!

1. Stand tall and proud.
I am actually very short but trees have taught me to stay proud of who I am and to be comfortable in my skin (or bark)! So if standing tall isn't easy, always be proud of who you are becoming!

2. Go out on a limb.
Sometimes we are fearful of just going for it and trusting our own strength, but trees must have limbs to receive CO2 and to accept sunlight. Just like they must spread themselves, we must open up to other to receive the support we all deserve!

3. Remember your roots.
No matter where you are from or where you are going, we all have that one thing we are rooted in and find sustenance from. For some that is religion, family, friends or a hobby like writing. But no matter where you end up, never forget where you came from.

4. Drink plenty of water.
Trees cannot live or thrive without water, and neither can we! Drink water everyday and try to get 2 liters in your body before you go to sleep each night. Not only will it keep your skin glowing, but will give you energy!

5. Be content with your natural beauty.
Nothing is prettier than someone who loves themselves without makeup or enhancement. Trees are prettiest in the wild, and so are we.

6. Be still enough to hear your own leaves rustle.
This simply means take time to let yourself be. Take time to hear your heartbeat; never forget how alive you are.

7. Enjoy the view.
This life won't last forever, so take it all in while you can.

~all good things are wild and free~