Planting a Tree Within

By Gaby Kokas

All my life, I have been searching for something; something that would give meaning to my existence. Like many people, I asked myself questions that don’t have easy answers: Why am I here? What is my purpose? What truly lasts? For a long time, I believed that meaning had to be something tangible. Something visible. Something I could point to and say, this matters. And then I came across the idea of planting a tree.

Planting a tree felt like the perfect symbol of purpose. A tree grows slowly, quietly, and steadily. It gives shade to those who may never know who planted it. It lives longer than we do. It becomes part of something greater; nature, time, continuity. It serves not only the present, but the future. Generations may rest beneath it, breathe because of it, or simply admire its existence. To plant a tree is to believe in tomorrow. And yet, as meaningful as that is, I began to feel that something was still missing.
When I started meditating, my understanding began to shift. I realized that even planting a physical tree, as beautiful and valuable as it is, is still external and not eternal, as it will also disappear one day. It exists in the world but what about the world within? That is when I understood that the most important tree we can plant is not outside, but inside ourselves. A spiritual tree.

This tree grows through our intentions, our actions, and the way we relate to others. Every time we act with kindness, we plant a seed. Every time we let go of anger, ego, or selfishness, we water that seed. Every time we choose to contribute rather than take, the roots grow deeper. Unlike a physical tree, this one is invisible but its impact is just as real, perhaps even more lasting. Because what we give to others does not disappear.

When we truly help someone, when we inspire, when we act with sincerity, those actions ripple outward. They influence lives, shape decisions, and continue far beyond what we can see. In this way, what we plant within ourselves becomes part of humanity itself. This is a different kind of legacy. It is not about being remembered. It is not about recognition. It is about contribution; quiet, continuous, and sincere. I once thought that meaning had to be something grand, something visible, something permanent in the physical world, for example being successful, famous or being recognized. But now I see it differently. Meaning is created in every moment we choose to act for something greater than ourselves.

Planting a tree in the world is a beautiful act. But planting a tree in the mind; one that grows through compassion, awareness, and selflessness, this is something that can truly transform the world. Because when enough people begin to plant this kind of tree, the forest we create is not just one of nature, but one of humanity. And that is something that can last forever.