I AM A TREE who can’t read, so I don’t know what kind of tree I am. I can see many other trees around where I live, but I don’t look like any of them. I must be special.

 I go to work every morning at sunrise and spread my leaves to face the sun as much as possible to catch the solar rays and get my engines running. I have an important job; I create oxygen from carbon dioxide in the air.

It has taken many years for me to create enough leaves to make a difference large enough for humans to measure, but they are getting better at it now.  They are frightened by what they call global warming.  I help them as much as I can by reducing carbon dioxide, which holds heat on the earth, warming it.

All humans are rather ignorant. That means they lack the information to make wise, informed decisions about things. It is OK to be ignorant because all humans are ignorant about 99.9% of their surroundings. Human knowledge is only a grain of sand on the beach of knowledge.

Being stupid is not OK. That means you have the knowledge available to make a good decision but don’t use it. These humans are killing my cousins in the forest. They are building new houses to live in and to burn in the fireplace for warmth. They don’t seem to understand how hard trees work for them. Sun-up to sun-down, we work for them.

We also work hard for other animals like birds. They build their homes in our branches and raise their babies.

The shade we provide is enjoyed by all the animals and we also protect farms so heavy winds will not destroy their crops and use our roots to hold the soil in place.

We keep the ground cool when it is hot. And that helps humans with global warming.

The children that climb in my branches have a great time, laughing a lot and building good muscles.

I hope they don’t cut me down. I may be safe because I’m the only tree in this part of the park and if I am killed, all the things I do every day won’t be done here in this place.

I’m only 40 years old now and I can still work for about another 100 years or more. My death would be a big loss to this community in the small picture, as well as to the world in the big picture.

I love to live and help my environment survive. My leaves dance and sing their songs in the wind to calm those who sit in the shade I provide.

Please pass the word that I’m not dead yet and don’t want to be.

Be a tree, not a bush. Stand strong. Use your talents. YOU ARE SPECIAL.

If you are reading this, YOU’R NOT DEAD YET, don’t act like you are.