The Disappointing Present That Became a Real Gift

About 7 years ago, when I was still working in the corporate world, a parcel arrived for me from one of my suppliers. I got quite excited as over the years I had become accustomed to some very nice Christmas gifts such as hampers, bottles of champagne and chocolates However, when I opened the package I was frankly underwhelmed. Inside was a thin red tube and inside that was a tiny fir tree. It was only about 15 cms tall and barely more than a twig. “Is that it?” I said to myself. “Someone must be on an economy drive this year! “

But despite being more than a little disappointed the gardener and natural environment lover within me knew that I had to take care of the tree and try to make it flourish. So, I duly cleared a space in a border in the front garden and placed the tiny specimen into the soil. Over the next few years I watered it diligently during dry summers, mulched around its roots to keep away the weeds and watched over it like a mother hen and gradually over time my little twig started to develop into a small tree. I began to feel excited when I noticed new shoots appearing and after a few years I started to eagerly anticipate the time when it would start to look like a ‘proper’ Christmas tree and would be big enough to support a set of outdoor twinkling lights. 

Well that day finally arrived last Christmas when for the first time I deemed it to be big enough and strong enough to take the weight of its own set of lights and the excitement I felt when I placed them on my little tree and turned them on was really quite magical. I continue to nurture and care for it and this year it has grown so well that next Christmas it will need a longer set of lights!

Why am I sharing this story? Well, my little tree taught me an important lesson : things that may appear on first sight to be a disappointing let down can often become a real gift, if you can embrace the positive possibilities. This year has been very much like that for me. Like so many other business owners, my plans for this year were thrown into total disarray by Covid-19 and I had to think fast and creatively to get things back on track. I adapted my approach so that most things could be done virtually, I gained new skills, I worked twice as hard, I put myself out there and provided free resources to businesses on the subjects of employee engagement and culture and I was rewarded with a fabulous support network, new clients, new business relationships and successful projects with my existing clients. Just like my little tree and its constant need to be fed and watered so my business needs the same. There has been a lot of hard work and long hours but a lot of joy and satisfaction too. I know that there are many people out there who have not been as fortunate as me and have found this year a terrible struggle and my heart goes out to them. But as I look out of my office window to my little tree which is sparkling in the darkness I hope that with the arrival of the vaccines there is now some light at the end of what has been a very long and dark tunnel. I wish all of you a safe, healthy and happy 2021. May you all be blessed with your own version of my little Christmas twig!