I have recently come home from a two week stint in Russia. There I met a little boy who has left an indelible impression on my life, this is his story.

Wherever I find myself, I employ a local driver to take me to the places I need to go. This gives me the opportunity to find out things about the locale I'm in as well as being a chance to unwind on the way to my hotel from the site. This is how I met Anatoly.

During our trips in the car, the driver and I spoke of many things to try and get to know each other. Discussion of hobbies revealed my love of Bonsai. He then spoke of Anatoly, an 11 year old boy riddled with cancer. His passion for Bonsai was giving him focus to his struggle, something to live for.
I said that I would love to meet him so my driver took me to the hospital.
Walking down the grey corridors that reflected the leaden skies outside, I became sombre and wondered if I was doing the right thing. What could I say to him, what could I give him, what could I do? I suppose that when one hasn't long to live, every pleasant moment counts. As it turned out it was he who gave me a great gift.

We spoke via the driver who interpreted for us. About a year ago Anatoly came across a bonsai magazine. He was amazed by the trees and started shortly after. There they were. Little trees in assorted containers. Most would call them twigs in a pot and would not merit them a second glance. To him they were beautiful and perfect. I looked at them again, this little oasis in a desert of despair and saw the most beautiful bonsai I have ever seen.
Anatoly said he knew he was dying. He knew his trees were far from perfect yet if he lived he would get the chance to make them beautiful. He was looking at them as they were but also saw what they could become. For him that was where their beauty lay. He said that when he looked at them, he saw himself. Stunted by his illness yet if he lived he would be able to do as children his age did and took for granted. Like his trees, he would be able to grow up healthy and beautiful, given a chance.

We spoke for a while longer but then I had to leave, talking was an effort for him. Here I am now back at home in the comfort of my own space. Enriched by a chance meeting with a little boy brought about by the love of little trees. Some of you might know my thinking that our trees are a reflection of ourselves, our teachers; from reading 'Something to Think About'. Next time we look at our trees or those of others we should take the time to see the perspective. An imperfection now may be dealt with in the future. We should look at the inherent beauty it has now. At the same moment, seeing that time and effort might change what we don't like. Enjoy the present and the potential at the same time. We should not apologise for how our trees look or feel less because they can be better. But rather take pride in what we do because it is our best. No matter that someone else may do better or know more. We live and we learn, this is life's process and we ought to be proud to be a part of it. One day we may all be masters. Bonsai teaches patience yet how much of that do we afford our own process. We take it as a given that our bonsai need time to grow. Yet we don't afford ourselves the same luxury regarding our own experience and knowledge. We apologise for the lack of it. Does this not make less of what we do?

Anatoly was a bonsai master. Not because of the beauty of his trees, but because he grasped the real spirit of the craft. He had no ego to label his efforts as being less or more than others. He looked at what others did and took pride in the possibility that given time, he would do the same. There was no doubt in his mind about that possibility. He had little time left yet barrel-loads of patience with himself and his trees. Most importantly he saw no difference between the relationship he had with his trees and his outlook about himself. Life, like bonsai, is to be enjoyed now. If our trees are not perfect they can be. The future is there to complement the present as a guide. Not as a measure that what we have now is less because present expectations are not met. Time allows the gift of possibilities attained.
In the brief time we spent together I never heard Anatoly apologise that his efforts had no merit. He had a way to go yet but this is what gave him joy. He lived his life, did the best he could and made no excuse for either. The present was all he had to work with and he ensured he wrung every ounce of pleasure from it.

The last time I saw Anatoly, three days ago, he was wrapped up in a coma and slipping away. In some small way he will live on because I shall always remember him. Now that I have shared his story with you maybe I share a little of the gift he gave me. A reminder to enjoy what we do and have now because the quality inherent in the future is brought about by our attitude towards the present………….yet another amazing experience brought about by the love of Bonsai.