How to Chase a Dream: an Analysis of Persistence

There is a red oak tree in my yard that I thought would have curled up and surrendered years ago. My sons have plucked its leaves, snapped off its branches, shoved past it in their haste and excitement to get to the trampoline that sits beside it. They have abused it; not on purpose, but because they are regular boys playing a regular game of see-who-gets-there-first, and they don’t heed the things that get in their way.

My husband and I planted this tree the first week we moved into our home...