Century Park Blog

In 1987 in Arizona, scientists and engineers constructed an ambitious project called Biosphere 2 – a huge glass dome rather like a giant greenhouse. The structure was designed to keep plants and trees of all kinds safe from the elements outside... but something shocking happened. After time, the trees began to topple over.

Scientists were baffled. What had caused the trees to fall? As it turned out, they had developed no deep root systems and no "stress wood" that could sustain the trees' weight. This was due to there being no wind inside the dome, so the trees never endured any "stress" with strong winds pummeling them over many years. Without any adversity to struggle against, the trees were weak and eventually they fell over.

The life lesson here is obvious: stress and adversity are unpleasant, but they are crucial in helping us become stronger. If life were always simple and everything went according to plan with no road bumps or crises, we may be happier in the moment, but eventually we would collapse since we had never developed the "stress wood" which makes us resilient and resourceful and confident to endure, no matter the trials that life brings us.

This Biosphere project came to mind recently as many families packed emergency boxes and gave financial donations while many first responders and caregivers in our industry sacrificed their time and their talents to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene and its aftermath.

Our team at Lake Pointe Landing in Hendersonville, North Carolina, guided by our courageous leader Rita Hood, braved the storm together with their residents. Our team never wavered throughout the week in their commitment to their calling. Although our community sustained no damage or loss, two of our precious associates lost everything they own.

Tonight, many communities brace for Hurricane Milton. Several of our healthcare workers will leave their own families to protect seniors across the state, and first responders would not give a second thought in preparing to put their lives on the line to help their neighbors.

If you have experienced tragedy in your own life, you know the deep and complex emotions that threaten to bend your every belief, your mental agility, and the very essence of your being. But, as you move through each day living through tragedy, stress, and strain, you realize that what could have broken you yesterday and may cause you to bend today will not break you. Yes, you may bend. Some of your roots may be pulled from side to side. A few roots may even break from the pressure; however, new roots will regenerate and grow even stronger, and they will keep you standing no matter what storms come into your life.