The Branch That Touches the Water: Finding the People Who Truly Matter

Sunday walks with my wife are a thing. It’s our way of unwinding, and she always chooses the woods. Living in Munich, we’re lucky to have beautiful forest areas nearby, and walking through them has become a quiet little ritual for us—somewhere between a habit and a reset button.

A couple of weeks ago, we were out as usual, talking about our week, life, and random things, when we came across a small wooden bridge over a canal—just a quiet stream branching off from the Isar River. The bridge itself was simple but beautiful, with a few locks attached to its railing. It wasn’t a famous spot, just one of those places you stumble upon and instinctively pause at.



We stood in the middle of the bridge, watching the water flow beneath us. On both sides, trees leaned over the stream, their branches hanging low, almost touching the water. Almost.

Most Relationships Are Like Those Trees

Looking at those trees, it struck me how similar they are to the people in our lives.

Most of the branches were there—near the water, hovering over it—but not quite touching. They looked like they might, but they didn’t. Just like the people who pass through our lives.

There are so many people we interact with daily—colleagues, acquaintances, distant relatives, people we once considered friends but who have now faded into the background. They’re around us, part of our world, but they don’t really impact us. The water keeps flowing, and they remain on the sidelines.

And yet, how often do we waste energy thinking about these relationships? Worrying about what someone thinks of us, chasing people who aren’t really part of our story, or feeling guilty about not keeping in touch with every single person we’ve ever known?

But then, I saw one branch that was actually touching the water.

The Few Who Change Your Flow

Unlike the others, this branch wasn’t just there—it was part of the stream. It dipped into the water, creating ripples, shifting the flow ever so slightly, adding beautiful little currents.

That’s what the closest people in our lives do. They don’t just hover around us. They shape us. They challenge us. They add depth and movement. They make our lives richer, more interesting, more meaningful.

This could be a handful of people—a best friend, a sibling, a partner, a mentor. The ones who truly see us. The ones whose words, actions, and presence make an actual difference.


*Video of the bridge and the branch touching the water at the bottom left of the screen

The Lesson: Find Your Branches, Be a Branch for Others

The walk and the bridge reminded me of something simple yet powerful:

  • Most people in your life are just trees by the river. They’re there, they exist, but they don’t really touch your life in any meaningful way. And that’s okay.
  • Stop chasing branches that don’t touch the water. If someone isn’t truly part of your journey, don’t spend unnecessary energy on them. Relationships should be natural, not forced.
  • Find the branches that do touch the water. The ones who create ripples, who change your flow in a good way. The people who make life better simply by being in it.
  • And most importantly—be that branch for someone else. Be the person who adds something positive to someone’s life, who supports, uplifts, and truly connects.

The water keeps flowing. The trees will always be there. But in the end, it’s the few branches that touch the water that truly make a difference.

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