“Laurie, why did you name your business The Lotus Tree?” is a question I’m often asked. And although the answer is quite simple, it has great personal significance.
I’ve always been drawn to the symbolism of the lotus flower and I love trees, hence The Lotus Tree. It wasn’t until after I named the business that I discovered there is no such thing as a lotus tree, only shrubs and bushes.
And that’s the beauty of The Lotus Tree Sensory Integration center, a vision of purity, strength and possibility. Growing up with a learning disability, I had a lot of shame and embarrassment about getting help from professionals. I hated being pulled from class, going to the resource room for English and Math and feeling separate from my peers. Nothing short of a miracle lead me to Occupational Therapy (OT) school and once there, life (my life) started to make sense. It was here that my vision began and over the next 10 years of working as a pediatric OT it became clearer. A therapy clinic where all kids want to come! That’s what I was to create. A place that every child wants to be, where they feel not only accepted but celebrated. A safe place to try new things, meet new friends and to find our own unique avenue of expression.
Creating such a place was not a solo job. I am humbled everyday by the amazing people who stepped up in my life throughout this journey. That’s who built The Lotus Tree. I often say, once I spoke the vision aloud it took on a life of it’s own and all I had to do was to get out of it’s way. It is my belief that all we need to be successful in life is someone to believe in us in those moments when we don’t believe in ourselves.
