How "Little tree's big dream" came to be

HI!  This is my first blog post and I wanted to give readers some idea of where story ideas come from. At least for me.

Long ago, (around 1971) I was given an English class assignment to write a story.  I've always loved the woods, and the idea to write about a tree that wanted more than to grow up in the forest came to me.

Recently, I had a review done on "Little Tree's Big Dream" and was told my story actually is a retelling of a Hans Christian Anderson tale called "The Fir Tree"

Little Tree's big dream
​review

Hans Christian Anderson's 'The Fir Tree'

 I really don't remember reading this story, however it is fairly close to the one I wrote so it is possible I read it as a child and unconsciously remembered it. 

I was also made aware of another Christmas Tree story and the title is eerie considering, 

Albert the little tree with big dreams

SO... where do story ideas come from? I can only say they are always coming into my head, always have. I've never consciously copied another person's story, and have no idea why stories can be similar like this.  Maybe the mystics are right and we all tap into a collective consciousness?