Sit with SMB: Your Place in the Family of Things

As we approach the summer solstice—the longest light of the year—nature offers a quiet reminder: belonging isn't something we earn. It's something we already have. In this Sit with SMB episode, Susan reflects on the loss of a beloved hundred-year-old white pine that stood in her yard for decades. A triple-topped tree with deep roots and a steady presence, it became an unexpected teacher about grief, gratitude, and the ways nature continues its cycles even when they don't unfold as we imagined. Drawing inspiration from the writings of Mary Oliver and her own experience saying goodbye to the tree long before it came down, Susan explores what it means to be part of "the family of things." The conversation moves through themes of belonging, nature's wisdom, interrupted cycles, and the permission we receive from the natural world to simply be ourselves. This episode is an invitation to consider how nature holds both endings and continuations at the same time—and how what appears to be loss may sometimes be transformation. As the solstice approaches, Susan leaves listeners with a gentle question: What in your life might be ready to change form? Resources Mentioned Mary Oliver, Wild Geese Mary Oliver, When I Am Among the Trees Connect with Rooted Visit Rooted online for episode notes, reflections, and additional resources: https://www.rootedsoulliving.com/rooted-podcast Connect with Susan Morgan Bailey: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanmbailey/ If this episode resonated with you, consider following Rooted: A Podcast About Nature & Wellbeing and sharing it with someone who could use a reminder that they already belong.