Surrounded by Giants
Surrounded by giants that carry wisdom spanning over 3,000 years!
What a powerful way to begin the year. Walking through a forest that is home to some of the oldest and biggest trees on Earth. Yes, I’m talking about the giant sequoias. And wow… what giants they are.
I was lucky enough to spend two weeks in California with a friend, and during that time we visited Sequoia National Park, a place I had been longing to see for a very long time. The idea of walking among these giant trees was something that lived in my imagination for years. Being there made me reflect on how short our time is compared to what they have already lived. We are just a page in their vast library. Just a breath that passes so quickly. I couldn’t stop wondering what they have witnessed, what they have experienced over thousands of years.
Standing in their presence, I felt small and so did my problems and worries.
We spent hours walking among them. The atmosphere was magical. It was snowing, and we were the only ones on that path. I could hear the wind gently moving the high branches above us, the sound of our shoes touching the forest floor, the crunch of snow beneath our feet. It felt like time had stopped, even if only for a moment. As we entered the forest, we left everything else behind. It was just us and the giants, together for a very brief moment in their long lives.
Out of curiosity, I later did some research about these trees. Sequoias are, in fact, the largest trees on Earth, native to groves on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. Unfortunately, like many plants and animals, they are listed as endangered by the IUCN, with fewer than 80,000 remaining.
I also started reading a book about them, King Sequoia: The Tree That Inspired a Nation, Created Our National Park System, and Changed the Way We Think About Nature. I’m still at the very beginning, but something already struck me deeply: what happened after the first Euro-American discovery of these trees. Any guesses? They were cut down so they could be exhibited around the world. In many ways, not much has changed in how we treat our planet.
And yet, despite everything, they are still standing.
They are living proof of how resilient and extraordinary nature can be. Spending time surrounded by them made me realise that greatness takes time and this is true for so many things in life. Growth, healing, strength, understanding. Especially for those going through a rough time right now: remember this. Even when you feel small, even when things feel slow or heavy, time and patience carry a quiet power.
Just like the giants.
There is another thing that surprised me. Their bark is unusually fire resistant, and their cones often open after a fire. A tree that needs fire to survive.
And standing there, I felt that maybe we’re not so different. Maybe we also need our own fires sometimes. Not because they are easy, but because they shape us, strengthen us, and allow us to grow in ways we never imagined. How sometimes it’s only after going through something hard that we open too. How challenges can burn parts of us, but also make space for new beginnings.
If you’re going through a difficult season, remember this: growth doesn’t always look loud or fast. Sometimes it’s happening deep inside, unseen. And one day, you’ll realise that what challenged you also helped you stand taller.
