I read a post on substack that said we are not the figs, but the fig tree, forever giving birth to new opportunities (figs). It doesn't matter if the old ones die, you can still grow new figs. It was such a beautiful post, it made me realise that the real tragedy is that we've been convinced that we can only pick one of the figs and that will define us for the rest of our lives when we are actually the trees giving birth to the figs.
As someone who cares for a fig tree, their beauty is so complex. Each fig is not a single fruit but is actually a vessel for many smaller fruits within it. A small world of cooperative parts that nourish one another. And figs never ripen all at once either. Each individual fig has to be fertilized by a wasp and has its own growth rate. Transformation does not come only from within; we must allow ourselves to be changed by the world. Some figs never ripen, yet they persist on the branch, allowing themselves to grow despite no guarantee of harvest.
Just a quick reflexion I had thanks to your comment: I've recently been struggling to determine wether my chosen career path is what I truly want, or if its what's best suited for me; its a very different and higher up fig from the rest, lets say.
Looking at it the way you wrote it, me as the tree and not an outsider desperately looking for the right fig to eat, has calmed down months of anxiety. Picking one fig doesn't mean leaving the rest to rot, they're all a part of me, and will keep being a part of me.
Just a quick reflexion I had thanks to your comment: I've recently been struggling to determine wether my chosen career path is what I truly want, or if its what's best suited for me; its a very different and higher up fig from the rest, lets say.
Looking at it the way you wrote it, me as the tree and not an outsider desperately looking for the right fig to eat, has calmed down months of anxiety. Picking one fig doesn't mean leaving the rest to rot, they're all a part of me, and will keep being a part of me.
Honestly, same, I did so many different things, from banker to yoga teacher, to property manager, to family business, to digital strategist & currently unemployed as an artist/ web designer/author / trying to open a business area. I am honestly lost and a bit scared of the future at 27. It feels like everyone my age is senior in their field, and I kept changing things all the time.
Woah that is so beautiful. Something always hasn't sat right with me about the fig tree analogy. As with a lot of Plath, her writing is exceptional but shrouded in her depression. This is such a wonderful twist on the depressive lens of Plath's metaphor 💛
I like to think about it this way.. you will eat alot of figs in your life some are ripe and delicious and others not ready yet, you can always stop eating that fig and try another one.
This was so beautifully written, what a blessing it is to live a life long enough to get to experience so many figs. Eras. Personas. Life. How lucky and cursed are we who crave to savor and experience all that life can offer. The simplicity, the complexity and the eternal love that come with living a life that is only yours.
Thank you for sharing, it's really comforting in way to read your words and realize "i'm not the only one who wants to experience living multiple lives in one life"
DEEPLY felt that section about watching a movie and coming out of it being so inspired to do whatever the movie was about especially when it’s a film about something creative
I appreciate how you explained this feeling, my husband has been a professional cyclist and artist at very high degrees and i have pegged myself into accounting bc to be great at anything you have to dedicate years and years and i haven’t achieved what i feel he has in his disciplines. You’re writing is a comforting read, i may let go of accounting and go try another fig, bc I can.
I resonate with the piece and the comments so much. I took a recommendation from this and watched The Worst Person in the World and I've really loved it🥹 thank you!
I like to think I can be the whole tree, and a fig doesn’t have to be your whole career (although we would mostly like it to be). I can write in a diary and call myself a writer, I can arrange some picture frames in my house like it’s my own gallery and then call myself a curator. Nobody else can label you apart from yourself. So practice and use every fig on your tree.
It's so nice to realize so many others feel the same way you do, thanks for sharing and thanks to everyone in the comments because these are great ways to change our perception of things
thank you for sharing this lovely, i think this is the epitome of your 20’s. you want everything in the world but are so damn tired.. you wrote this beautifully. i think all of us will find our cozy corners of our desires and everything we need and want in life. it has a way of finding us all! 🤎
I feel like you've just described the constant issue I've felt my whole life, and in such a beautifully worded way. I want to do everything, and that combined with burnout and wanting to do nothing instead makes life such an interesting push and pull. Thanks for writing :)
thank you Portia 🥹 I feel the same yes! There’s days where I’m super motivated to do absolutely everything but then of doing that I have the longer periods of burnouts
This is so real to me. I have changed my mind countless times on what I want to do and I sometimes don’t always feel happy or that anything will fullfill me. But then the feeling of saying to people “oh I do this now I don’t do that anymore” fills me with dread
I read a post on substack that said we are not the figs, but the fig tree, forever giving birth to new opportunities (figs). It doesn't matter if the old ones die, you can still grow new figs. It was such a beautiful post, it made me realise that the real tragedy is that we've been convinced that we can only pick one of the figs and that will define us for the rest of our lives when we are actually the trees giving birth to the figs.
wow I love love that point of view, thank you! We are not our professions or choices, we are just who we are, so yes I’m a little fig tree branch
I wrote that piece! But I loved this @alba leao bravo 👏🏻
how coool!!! thank you Zoe, going to read that piece asap
thank god i found you again
As someone who cares for a fig tree, their beauty is so complex. Each fig is not a single fruit but is actually a vessel for many smaller fruits within it. A small world of cooperative parts that nourish one another. And figs never ripen all at once either. Each individual fig has to be fertilized by a wasp and has its own growth rate. Transformation does not come only from within; we must allow ourselves to be changed by the world. Some figs never ripen, yet they persist on the branch, allowing themselves to grow despite no guarantee of harvest.
Just a quick reflexion I had thanks to your comment: I've recently been struggling to determine wether my chosen career path is what I truly want, or if its what's best suited for me; its a very different and higher up fig from the rest, lets say.
Looking at it the way you wrote it, me as the tree and not an outsider desperately looking for the right fig to eat, has calmed down months of anxiety. Picking one fig doesn't mean leaving the rest to rot, they're all a part of me, and will keep being a part of me.
So beautiful
thank you! 🥹check out my new post!
Just a quick reflexion I had thanks to your comment: I've recently been struggling to determine wether my chosen career path is what I truly want, or if its what's best suited for me; its a very different and higher up fig from the rest, lets say.
Looking at it the way you wrote it, me as the tree and not an outsider desperately looking for the right fig to eat, has calmed down months of anxiety. Picking one fig doesn't mean leaving the rest to rot, they're all a part of me, and will keep being a part of me.
Honestly, same, I did so many different things, from banker to yoga teacher, to property manager, to family business, to digital strategist & currently unemployed as an artist/ web designer/author / trying to open a business area. I am honestly lost and a bit scared of the future at 27. It feels like everyone my age is senior in their field, and I kept changing things all the time.
omg im so happy my comment could do that for you. wishing you peace and love <3
And those figs that die and fall off the tree will become nourishment for the new figs that you'll grow 💪🧡
yess 💌
Woah that is so beautiful. Something always hasn't sat right with me about the fig tree analogy. As with a lot of Plath, her writing is exceptional but shrouded in her depression. This is such a wonderful twist on the depressive lens of Plath's metaphor 💛
ikrr im glad you liked it!
I like to think about it this way.. you will eat alot of figs in your life some are ripe and delicious and others not ready yet, you can always stop eating that fig and try another one.
I like that, some are rotten too, but we dont have to stick to one!! thank you Mia 😊
This was so beautifully written, what a blessing it is to live a life long enough to get to experience so many figs. Eras. Personas. Life. How lucky and cursed are we who crave to savor and experience all that life can offer. The simplicity, the complexity and the eternal love that come with living a life that is only yours.
thank you patti it is a blessing indeed <3
Thank you for sharing, it's really comforting in way to read your words and realize "i'm not the only one who wants to experience living multiple lives in one life"
thank you! I also love when I relate to another woman’s thoughts, happy women’s day :)
DEEPLY felt that section about watching a movie and coming out of it being so inspired to do whatever the movie was about especially when it’s a film about something creative
yes yes yes!! I feel different almost
I appreciate how you explained this feeling, my husband has been a professional cyclist and artist at very high degrees and i have pegged myself into accounting bc to be great at anything you have to dedicate years and years and i haven’t achieved what i feel he has in his disciplines. You’re writing is a comforting read, i may let go of accounting and go try another fig, bc I can.
yes! and also, we don’t have to be the best at something to really enjoy it, it’s an idea that we have fully set in our minds but it’s not true
thank you for your kind words <3
This majorly reminds me of The Worst Person In The World (Dir Joachim Trier) ✨ fantastic film, fantastic post
love that movie!! thank you 🥹
I resonate with the piece and the comments so much. I took a recommendation from this and watched The Worst Person in the World and I've really loved it🥹 thank you!
I like to think I can be the whole tree, and a fig doesn’t have to be your whole career (although we would mostly like it to be). I can write in a diary and call myself a writer, I can arrange some picture frames in my house like it’s my own gallery and then call myself a curator. Nobody else can label you apart from yourself. So practice and use every fig on your tree.
yes 🥹 the figs are nothing but an extension of the branch, so we are each and every fig
It's so nice to realize so many others feel the same way you do, thanks for sharing and thanks to everyone in the comments because these are great ways to change our perception of things
yes It is I’m so glad I posted this, I felt kind of alone on this and I’ve realized we all feel this 🥹
I feel to seen 🥹
💗me too
This rings so true to me it’s like you took an excerpt from my nonexistent diary and made it mean something. Thank you <3
that’s so nice thank you 🥹
thank you for sharing this lovely, i think this is the epitome of your 20’s. you want everything in the world but are so damn tired.. you wrote this beautifully. i think all of us will find our cozy corners of our desires and everything we need and want in life. it has a way of finding us all! 🤎
yes I think so too, I want everything but I want to enjoy too
I feel like you've just described the constant issue I've felt my whole life, and in such a beautifully worded way. I want to do everything, and that combined with burnout and wanting to do nothing instead makes life such an interesting push and pull. Thanks for writing :)
Same!!!!
thank you Portia 🥹 I feel the same yes! There’s days where I’m super motivated to do absolutely everything but then of doing that I have the longer periods of burnouts
This is so real to me. I have changed my mind countless times on what I want to do and I sometimes don’t always feel happy or that anything will fullfill me. But then the feeling of saying to people “oh I do this now I don’t do that anymore” fills me with dread
yes! and they are really stunned, so uncomfortable
ohmygod this is the best article i’ve ever read and because of this i’ve followed you
😭😭💗💗 I followed you back thank you
Dead female wasps being in figs mean… something… To me
they know who they are I guess