Walking down the narrow path of life, tired from her long journey, tears begin to fall. The beautiful woman thought of her life, and the paths she had chosen.

She lays upon the ground for a brief rest. Behind her, she heard a creaking and rustling, and turned to see the ugliest tree she could have ever imagined or had ever seen. It was gnarled, pitted, and old; close to death.

From the air around the tree she heard "Come to me my child. I know you are tired from your long journey. Please rest here in branches. You will be protected by the wind, and from the wild animals.

The twisted branches slowly creaked down, and the woman took a step back. "What is the matter my child?" she heard again from the air around her.

"You are an ugly tree, look at you. Old from the years of neglect; twisted by time, and not one leaf or fruit to your name." The young woman said with sadness.

"But my child, who are you to say I am not beautiful? Do you not see me stand proud and strong? Do you not see my beautiful bands of color? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And I not only Behold my own beauty, I OWN it."

Taking a step closer, she began to climb the branches of the old twisted tree. The higher she climbed, the more at peace she found herself with her own beauty. Seeing all the bits of beauty that she never saw before, she took a closer look. Beautiful knots, rings and twists of different colors.

Once she found her spot, she lay down, grasped a branch and said "I want to be just like you!"

---

This painting is SOLD

---