A quick Google search of the word endurance brings up this definition: the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way.

As arborists, I think we endure many unpleasant experiences, from the physical challenges that are presented in climbing and rigging work, through the intellectual challenges residing in risk assessment and diagnostic problem solving that we experience in caring for trees and consulting with tree owners.

So endurance is the challenge of maintaining a constant motion, and perfecting many little parts as they respond within the system. Like a chain saw cutting tooth always needs constant care, a constant fine tuning. And every tooth is different. Endurance is an action that requires monitoring, examination and also adaptability. It’s such a complex thing, endurance. In this case a sharp chain is not a product, but rather a process.

When contemplating the idea of endurance I think of Alex Shigo and his comparison of trees to oscillating pumps:

“Again, balance is the equalization of opposing forces. Balance means that motion stops. When movement ceases, the system stops-death. The balance of nature is a myth. Natural systems survive because they keep moving as dynamic equilibrium and dynamic oscillation” (Shigo, 202, Modern Arboriculture).

Health is determined in the motion of the pump. Shigo’s pump philosophy is a great illustration of endurance as healthy motion. It’s beneficial to consider endurance not simply as a constant motion, but as a constant response and adaptation to our natural surroundings. Dynamic oscillation. It’s anything but balanced, although as an outsider looking in, great endurance is very easy to perceive that way. Healthy motion is not easy movement. Great endurance doesn’t look like rapid responses, but rather like complete control.

There’s something else that also comes to mind when considering endurance, that is: limitations. Limitations are derived from factors acting on a system from the outside. In the tree’s case: water, soil, and microclimate and other members of the ecosystem. Biotic and Abiotic. Consider the arborist themselves: food, hydration, strength, information (knowledge), colleagues or employees or clients. Like trees, our limitations as arborists are driven by the inputs I just mentioned. We can change limitations by changing the inputs: amend soil, fertilize, irrigate, prune etc. Let that metaphor carry over to the arborist: eat better, read more and take on new clients.

By analyzing and changing inputs, we have a direct impact on dissolving limitations. The quality of these inputs has a direct effect on the overall success of the system. Fuel is critical to the ultimate duration of our endurance, or a tree’s endurance for that matter. Constant motion is very consuming. Rather than stalling the process because of poor inputs, planning and better analyzation will lead to a more effective pump.

My conclusion is this: endurance is not constant motion. It’s constantly better motion.

Without giving way.