I like to use analogies to illustrate my points in my teaching and product. Images from nature are so rich in message that the more I ponder upon them the more they motivate me. As I am thinking of an image to use in my Stress-Free Home Study Format the picture of bamboo came to mind.
Why bamboo? Well let's look at some of their qualities and then you tell me if you want to be like bamboo.
Bamboo is strong. It has a tensile strength that is superior to mild steel.
How strong is mild steel?
They can withstand up to 52,000 pounds of pressure psi.
Is that strong enough for you?
Bamboo has a weight-to-strength ratio that surpasses that of graphite.
That makes bamboo the strongest growing woody plant on earth
Now if you think that Bamboo is strong and hard, think again.
It is very flexible.
Seen "Hidden Dragon Crouching Tiger"?
Because of the flexibility coupled with their strength, buildings made with bamboo have been known to withstand earthquakes measuring up to 9.0 on the Richter scale.
Bamboo is resilient, tenacious, never yielding and bounces back to life.
They survived the atomic bomb at Hiroshima in 1945.
And was the first plant to re-grow and re-green after the blast!
They did not bow to any bomb. When attacked they just bounced back to life!
Bomb or no bomb!
And when harvested Bamboo just continue to sprout new shoots!
They don't give in, they just grow back!
Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on this planet.
Some species have been measured to grow over 4 feet in 24 hours!
Is that fast enough for you?
What's the lesson here?
We talk about changing economy and different external pressure facing us every day from every direction.
There is the finance, the job, the business, the health, the many concurrent projects and the list goes on.
And we feel stressed from every angle, pulled from many directions.
What's the point I am making?
We need to be strong to withstand external force and pressure,
And we need to be open to change and adapt.
We grow with changing times and bounce back into action when we falter.
Think of modelling after the bamboo.
Ground your roots, dig deep into your resources to withstand external pressures.
Bend with the tide, be willing to change and be transformed.
Go with the flow and grow,
and regenerate even if you have been knocked down or "harvested".
Just grow again, only this time greener, stronger, healthier, taller!
Those who are on my Enjoying Success Without The Stress Home Study Format,
will understand why I embrace this picture.
And it is my hope that you too will find the bamboo in you to ride out the storms of life.
Bamboo never says die, bamboo just flexes its muscles, bends and regenerates.
By the way, if you have not noticed, Bamboo is hollow.
Lots of spaces in the bamboo.
Those on my "Success without the Stress Home Study Format" will know exactly what I am talking about!
Viva la Bamboo!
Some facts are taken from the FRIM Site (Forest Research Institute of Malaysia as I was doing the research
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[…] chocolate soldiers will melt under the sun – sorry but that's what will happen. Be as bamboo, touch and flexible, go with the flow when you need to but bamboo does not break nor give in […]
I was interviewed by someone I met in the coaching gym and we touched on being like the bamboo http://sn.im/bam_boo
To stretch and not snap – know your limits. Go beyond what’s comfortable and to d edge – that’s what yoga taught me 🙂 http://sn.im/bam_boo
@a2acoaching That was a fun call, thanks for having me. Will put recording on my site, & here’s more on bamboos http://sn.im/bam_boo
@MalaysianLife I know I am beginning to appreciate bamboo more & more even aft I wrote this post http://sn.im/bam_boo
Did I mention that my sis gave me a gigantic fridge magnet with pictures of rainbow bamboo! I love bamboos http://sn.im/bam_boo
Thanks Robyn for your comments!
Yes, Tall and Strong we will be as we learn to be flexible and maintain space.
It seems many people frow bamboo, perhaps I should too, except I don’t have a garden…
Louisa
Thanks Lauren for dropping by!
And Yes, to the power of the Internet!
That is a great analogy Louisa… when I think of bamboo, I think of how it spreads and grows quickly… like the power of the internet! I am here in Texas writing on your blog in Malaysia.
Bamboo grows right outside my yard… I will look at it from a completely different perspective now!
I totally agree Louisa – you are indeed Bamboo. And I know first hand how fast it grows, we used to have some in our backyard. Tall and strong and faster than anything else around it!
Plus – very tall and beautiful 🙂
Cheers
Robyn
Dear Beth,
I love the picture of a oasis garden full of bamboo!!
Perhaps we can make that happen with our magic wand??
I heard of black bamboo and am not sure if you have something in mind when you mention them here. We can talk about that if you like in our Coffee Talk!
Dear Dania.
Thanks for your sharing.
A warrior fights with flexible strategy. The bamboo offers that as well as it’s attitude that never gives up. They are invincible!
To the fighter in Dania!
Louisa
That’s beautiful, elegant and simply inspiring. I always gravitate towards bamboo. Now I know why. I appreciate your in depth essence of the bamboo in all of us. It would be fun to have a garden full of it, but until then I’ll live in my fantasy oasis bamboo forest.
Also, thank your for the interesting facts that it’s hollow, survived atomic bombs and more! Lousia, are you familiar with black bamboo?
What comes after flames and bamboos? http://sn.im/bam_boo. I will dream about it in my sleep. Night Twitterville
@Julian_Miller sharing this with you too http://tinyurl.com/d3dgn3
That’s quite motivating Louisa. … A beautiful analogy…
It’s a mind-set, I guess. I always thought of myself as a “fighter” (more reactive with natural weeknesses), but never a bamboo (with resilience in essance).
Now, I’ll think of myself as forever a bamboo! Hardships only make me stronger 🙂
New blog post: The Bamboo In You http://tinyurl.com/d3dgn3