#467 A Tree. Shade and Adventure

A single tree on a flat, brown plain can change a whole day. That’s the picture we return to as we unpack a simple framework for sustainable growth: find shade when the sun is too fierce, and seek adventure when life turns flat. From a rural Colorado childhood spent under wide branches to the pressures and possibilities of adult life, we connect memory to method and turn a summer scene into a practical guide you can use right now.

We start by grounding “shade” in real practices that protect your energy: boundaries that keep burnout at bay, routines that refill your mental reserves, and relationships that offer comfort without judgment. Then we pivot to “adventure,” the spark that reminds you you’re still alive—trying something new, taking a small risk, shipping work before it feels ready, or following curiosity into a new corner of your world. Rather than treating these as opposites, we show how they work together: shade creates the safety to climb, and adventure gives purpose to the rest.

Along the way, we share prompts to help you diagnose what you need today, examples for weaving both into busy schedules, and a gentle nudge to notice the trees around you as daily cues. You’ll walk away with a rhythm you can repeat: restore, explore, integrate. If you’ve been feeling either singed by constant hustle or dulled by routine, this short, heartfelt message will help you recalibrate with clarity and kindness.

If this resonated, subscribe for more Growth Instigators Hotline messages, share this with a friend who needs a little shade or a dash of adventure, and leave a quick review—what’s one small adventure you’ll take today?

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Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome And Theme Setup
• 0:14 Childhood Under The Trees
• 1:04 Shade And Adventure As Adult Needs
• 1:47 Closing And Ways To Connect

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:00

Welcome to message 467 of the Growth Instigators Hotline, where we examine an everyday normal object and assign it a deeper meaning. I'm Aaron Havens, your host and growth coach. What can a tree remind us of today? Well, when I think about a tree, I think of shade. I think of adventure. Growing up in a small rural southeastern Colorado town, entertainment was what you made of it. You had to find it. Often I had to be very creative. In our flat and brown environment, a few big trees would grow. You could see them from miles away. This is often where you could find me during a summer's day. Hiding beneath the shade, playing in the tree limbs. This is what a tree reminds me of today. Shade adventure. What a young Aaron Havens was after. Okay, has much changed? Do I still desire shade and adventure? Yes, I do. How about you? Yes, of course. My shade is quite a bit more sophisticated, and my adventure oftentimes is more complex and sometimes even way more expensive. Yet this still resonates with me. I think we I think we all long to find shade, protection from the heat, safety, comfort. And I think also we long for adventure. Something that makes us smile and giggle a little bit. Something that reminds us that we are alive, something that might just scare us a little bit. So, my friends, as you notice trees today, may they remind you, regardless of how old you are, regardless of your age, that we are alive. Let's have a blast enjoying the shade and adventure in our lives today. You know what? That's all I got for you today. Thank you for tuning in. You can listen to any of our past messages wherever you get your podcasts. And if you have thoughts you'd like to share, I'd love to hear them. Contact me at growth instigators.com or leave me a message after the beep. Keep instigating growth in all you do.