--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Keep busy with survival. Imitate the…" description: "\"Keep busy with survival. Imitate the trees. Learn to lose in order to recover, and remember nothing stays the same for long, not even pain. Sit it out...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/may-sarton-897_busy_keep-busy-with-survival-imitate-the-tree_674223.jpg" --- # Keep busy with survival. Imitate the trees. Learn to lose… ![“Keep busy with survival. Imitate the trees. Learn to lose in order to recover, and remember nothing stays the same for long, not even pain. Sit it out. Let it all pass. Let it go.” quote by May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/may-sarton-897_busy_keep-busy-with-survival-imitate-the-tree_674223.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/may-sarton-897_busy_keep-busy-with-survival-imitate-the-tree_674223.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/may-sarton-897_busy_keep-busy-with-survival-imitate-the-tree_674223.jpg) > “Keep busy with survival. Imitate the trees. Learn to lose in order to recover, and remember nothing stays the same for long, not even pain. Sit it out. Let it all pass. Let it go.” [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Enduring hardship involves adapting, accepting loss, and allowing change to flow without clinging to pain. **In simple terms:** Adapt, accept loss, let change pass. Key Takeaway Embrace impermanence and move forward. Themes resilience impermanence acceptance Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - grief - career setbacks - relationship endings - health crises Key Concepts Stoicism mindfulness psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice letting go daily? - What does “sit it out” mean to you? A Different Perspective Pain can linger if not consciously released. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) [Entrepreneur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneur/) [Keep busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keep-busy/) [Let it go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-it-go/) [Letting go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-go/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Recover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recover/) [Recover Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recover-remember-5346693/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Survival Imitate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival-imitate-5346694/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) ## Related quotes > [Does anything in nature despair except man? An animal with a foot caught in a trap does not seem to despair. It is too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/does-anything-in-nature-despair-except-man-an-animal-with-a-foot/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [I think of the trees and how simply they let go, let fall the riches of a season, how without grief (it seems) they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-think-of-the-trees-and-how-simply-they-let-go-let-fall-the-riches/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Keep busy while you are waiting for something to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/keep-busy-while-you-are-waiting-for-something-to-happen/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [Keep busy at something: a busy person never has time to be unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/keep-busy-at-something-a-busy-person-never-has-time-to-be-unhappy/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [I just try to keep busy. I find sometimes, when I put my emotions into records, I don't feel as depressed. It's so easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-crow/i-just-try-to-keep-busy-i-find-sometimes-when-i-put-my-emotions-into/) [Rob Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-crow/) > [I am reasonably happy, providing I keep busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-lancaster/i-am-reasonably-happy-providing-i-keep-busy/) [Burt Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-lancaster/) > [I want to make sure that what I do has specific purpose and is not just throwing a dart at something to keep busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/i-want-to-make-sure-that-what-i-do-has-specific-purpose-and-is-not/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [Being busy and being productive are not necessarily the same. Many people keep busy to avoid taking action on things they're afraid to pursue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/being-busy-and-being-productive-are-not-necessarily-the-same-many/) [Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/) > [I'm too busy to be nostalgic, which is one of the reasons to keep busy. I'm not a very sentimental person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-wiseman/i-m-too-busy-to-be-nostalgic-which-is-one-of-the-reasons-to-keep-busy/) [Frederick Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-wiseman/) > [You have to keep busy. After all, no dog's ever pissed on a moving car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/you-have-to-keep-busy-after-all-no-dog-s-ever-pissed-on-a-moving-car/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [You have to kind of roll with the punches. That's why I think work begets work to a certain degree. I just try and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-nelson/you-have-to-kind-of-roll-with-the-punches-that-s-why-i-think-work/) [Judd Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-nelson/) > [I don't think I am a workaholic. I prefer to keep busy. It is better than the alternative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-coe/i-don-t-think-i-am-a-workaholic-i-prefer-to-keep-busy-it-is-better/) [Sebastian Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-coe/) > [The object is to keep busy being something...as opposed to doing something. We are all sent here to bring more gratitude, more kindness, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/the-object-is-to-keep-busy-being-something-as-opposed-to-doing/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) > [I keep busy. That was my nickname in college, 'Iron to the Fire.' I like to keep several things going at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/creed-bratton/i-keep-busy-that-was-my-nickname-in-college-iron-to-the-fire-i-like/) [Creed Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/creed-bratton/) > [The man who keeps busy helping the man below him won't have time to envy the man above him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrietta-mears/the-man-who-keeps-busy-helping-the-man-below-him-won-t-have-time-to/) [Henrietta Mears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrietta-mears/) ## More by May Sarton > [“I felt pain like an assault, The old pain again When the world thrusts itself inside, When we have to take in the outside,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-felt-pain-like-an-assault-the-old-pain-again-when-the-world-thrusts/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Most people have to talk so they won't hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/most-people-have-to-talk-so-they-won-t-hear/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [People who cannot feel punish those who do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/people-who-cannot-feel-punish-those-who-do/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [This suspension of one's own reality, this being entirely alone in a strange city (at times I wondered if I had lost the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/this-suspension-of-one-s-own-reality-this-being-entirely-alone-in-a/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [One must think like a hero to behave like a merely decent human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/one-must-think-like-a-hero-to-behave-like-a-merely-decent-human-being/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Real joy is becoming exceedingly rare among artists of any kind. And I have an idea that those who can and do communicate it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/real-joy-is-becoming-exceedingly-rare-among-artists-of-any-kind-and-i/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [For to be desperate is to discover strength. / We die of comfort and by conflict live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/for-to-be-desperate-is-to-discover-strength-we-die-of-comfort-and-by/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [“I see you with that shell Held to your sensitive abstracted ear, Hunting the ocean’s rumor till you hear it well, Until you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-see-you-with-that-shell-held-to-your-sensitive-abstracted-ear/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [There is a wilder solitude in winter When every sense is pricked alive and keen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/there-is-a-wilder-solitude-in-winter-when-every-sense-is-pricked/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [I long for the bulbs to arrive, for the early autumn chores are melancholy, but the planting of bulbs is the work of hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-long-for-the-bulbs-to-arrive-for-the-early-autumn-chores-are/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Why is it that people who cannot show feeling presume that that is a strength and not a weakness?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/why-is-it-that-people-who-cannot-show-feeling-presume-that-that-is-a/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Innocence is not pure so much as pleased, Always expectant, bright-eyed, self-enclosed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/innocence-is-not-pure-so-much-as-pleased-always-expectant-bright-eyed/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [I have written every poem, every novel, for the same purpose-to find out what I think, to know where I stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-have-written-every-poem-every-novel-for-the-same-purpose-to-find/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [For art is order, but it is born out of the chaos of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/for-art-is-order-but-it-is-born-out-of-the-chaos-of-life/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [all great people are humble because great people have great work and are humbled by the largeness of their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/all-great-people-are-humble-because-great-people-have-great-work-and/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) [Explore all 336 May Sarton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) ## More Busy quotes > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) [Victoria Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-derbyshire/) > [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/) [Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/) > [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [“Get busy live'n, or get busy die'n”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-shawshank-redemption/get-busy-live-n-or-get-busy-die-n/) [The Shawshank Redemption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-shawshank-redemption/) [Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Keep busy with survival. Imitate the trees. Learn to lose in order to recover, and remember nothing stays the same for long, not even pain. Sit it out. Let it all pass. 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