My metaphor of a willow tree in the wind has allowed me to understand the importance of a holistic approach to education, the importance of implementing health and well-being strategies, and the role of relationships, as they all play a vital role in the early childhood years. I perceive that each of these three elements represents branches of the willow tree - one branch represents promoting an appreciation and understanding of a holistic approach to education, the second branch represents identifying and promoting the importance of children’s health and well-being, and the third branch represents the role that relationships play on a child’s well-being.

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In the same vein, this is the motivation that inspires me to promote these elements, or the “branches” of the willow tree, to share with others in the field of early childhood education. Together, the tree - representing us, the wind - representing the challenges that come our way, and the branches - representing the three goals that I am passionate about sharing, all work together in unison to create a beautiful analogy of the willow tree in the wind. I envision that my three goals are metaphorically representing three branches of the willow tree – they extend from me, the willow tree, and help support the holistic being of the tree itself. It has been said that a willow tree symbolizes hope, safety, a sense of belonging, and that a willow tree symbolizes the ability to let go of any pain and suffering and with that to grow new branches and roots that were even stronger than the previous ones. With each storm that passes, some branches may be lost, but it is without saying that these branches will grow back even stronger and even mightier than they were before.