SUCCESS REQUIRES ‘PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE’ SEED OF THE CHINESE BAMBOO TREE

SUCCESS REQUIRES ‘PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE’ SEED OF THE CHINESE BAMBOO TREE

One of the strangest seeds in the world is the seed of the Chinese Bamboo Tree. It lies buried in the soil for five years before any seedling or sprout appears above the ground. Think of it! Five years! During all these years the seed is cultivated, that is, watered and fertilized regularly. Then comes the big surprise.

When the bamboo seedling finally emerges from the ground, it grows to a height of 90 feet in just six weeks. Why does the seedling take so long to emerge? Why does it grow so fast once it emerges? Plant experts say that during its first five years in the soil, the bamboo seed is busy building an elaborate root system that enables the tree to grow 90 feet in six weeks.

MONKEY BUSINESS 

In earlier days, there was an interesting technique used for catching monkeys. A huge jar with a narrow neck was used. Nuts were dropped into the jar in the presence of a monkey. A monkey trying to grab the nuts from the jar got caught, because its fist clutching the nuts, would get stuck in the narrow necked jar and it would refuse to release the nuts. The monkeys were too attached to drop the nuts and free themselves; hence they were caught. Are we also attached to stress like this?

 

SUCCESS REQUIRES THE ABILITY TO ‘KEEP GROWING’  

CONQUEST OF MOUNT EVEREST

In 1952, Edmund Hillary had attempted to climb Mount Everest and failed. On reaching home after his unsuccessful attempt, Hillary drew a picture of Mount Everest and said in a loud voice, “Mount Everest, you beat me the first time, but I’ll beat you the next time because you’ve grown all you are going to grow…..but I’m still growing!”

On May 29, 1953, Hillary became the first man to climb Mount Everest, the highest mountain peak standing tall at 29,028 feet. A few weeks later, Hillary walked onto a London stage, to a thunderous applause. He caught hold of the microphone and said: “ Hold on to your dreams, for they become realities because you are still growing.”