Wednesday, August 12, 2015

... growing flowers, friendships, and Me...



“An open home, an open heart,
here grows a bountiful harvest.”
~Judy Hand

One of the reasons I adore gardening is that there are so many daily changes… which even strikes me as funny considering I repeatedly say, “I hate change.” That isn’t exactly true. It’s just that *change* makes me anxious. Hell, everything makes me anxious. I’m a nervous person. When people tell me not to worry, it makes me worry more like perhaps I’m not worrying about the right thing. When my therapist asked me how worrying has ever helped me. I laughed and said, “It’s gotten me this far!” :p I have a good life. I don’t need to worry like I once did. You know, when you’re not sure if you can pay the bills; when you’re not sure you can afford to eat; when you’re not certain this is the right job or the right partner….etc. etc.

Right now my worries are pretty basic with perhaps the most stressful one being will the pumpkins survive?!? See, that isn’t a scary worry really.


“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life.”
~Ann Lamott


This is my first year growing pumpkins *by complete accident* I will remind you.  I’ve wrestled the basic obstacles folks have growing pumpkins in this climate and in a small yard. From bugs to the recent powdery mildew, we *seem* to be doing alright. I had to cut back several of the leaves (some sites said leave it be; others said it would kill the pumpkins; even others said spray with baking soda; and then, others cautioned me that I could burn the leaves. I did burn some by accident.)


What I continually learn from gardening is that it is trial and error, and that everyone has an opinion. Gardening also reminds me of Beauty. We all have our preferences and society even controls us a bit. This is pretty much like life. We’re all just trying to make it through and be the best versions of ourselves that we can be. I think the same about the pumpkin patch… and the hibiscus plants, and all my flowers really. I want them to meet their full potential but I don’t want to go to extreme measures. I check them daily; I care for them; I love them. If they survive (and I think they will at this point), great! If they do not, it isn’t because I didn’t try hard enough. Again, this is also true in life.  

I try to be the best partner/ daughter/ friend I can be. I don’t always get it right but I try. Sometimes my friends don’t always get it right with me either. Lately I’ve been dealing with a friend who has been displaying some super self-absorbed behavior. She hasn’t asked me in months how I am. She immediately starts in on her problems. I don’t even think she knows who I am anymore. Over the last few years as I have continued to grow into an authentic and happy Me, it seems that she isn’t interested in my happiness but trying to turn over rocks in an attempt to find an unhappy aspect of my life.  It’s hurtful and it makes me sad.

But, it also makes me incredibly grateful for those friends who do try and who genuinely seem to understand me. If you’ve been a reader for a bit, you’ll know that I’ve had a few meet-ups and become friends with a few other bloggers including Franny aka The Curious Professor Z. Franny and I seem to have tons in common and I’ve felt lucky and super blessed that we have had the opportunity to meet and become friends. She has the knack for sending out light & love just when I need it.

A few days ago, I received a package from her. I had been feeling a bit down because I had been super excited about working on a Dark Tourism course but then suddenly a new role and responsibilities seemed to hijack my plans. The course has to be put on hold for a few semesters while I become the Department Chair. Franny’s gift was a book (along with a beautiful card that had a spider stamp… and you all may recall how I am connected to spiders). The book is directly related to the development of my course but it’s also directly connected to me and what I love. And you know what, she knows me… actually knows me and checks in. Isn’t that all we want in our friendships? When I sent a text saying thank you, she even made me feel better and worry less about the pumpkins that I am growing.

This is the season of change. For me, this is the time (well, really Fall is the time) that I write my resolutions. I’m going to think of the changes as *opportunities* and I’m going to do my best to embrace them. In the meantime, I’m going to be thankful for what I do have and what is growing (in flowers and friendships) and continue nurturing them. I’m also going to light my Courage candle and “manifest a miracle” (so the candle instructions read) intending to harness all my worry and doubt and channel it into being the best me I can be.  I will grow from this! I will! As the Wiccans say, So mote it be, y’all... okay, maybe only Southern Wiccans ;D 

16 comments:

  1. I think, it sounds amazing you have developed a genuine friendship within the blog-sphere; It's great to hear you're friendship is flourishing.

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  2. Sharon, I LOVE YOU! I'm so glad you and I met and that we bonded. And we didn't bond on the surface ... it was deep and intense and good. I think you're going to be an awesome Chairperson -- you are honest, truthful, decent, honorable, and good. You care about your students, your faculty, your program, and the school. It's nice to speak with you about your teaching and courses because you are just as excited about them as I am about mine. It's refreshing to meet someone in academia who isn't jaded.

    Change is good, everything is in cycles. Embrace the cycle and suddenly you see that there are patterns, even in change. :) Now go outside and have a little chat with those pumpkins! I forgot to tell you, they like to talk. ;) I used to kiss mine every night before I went to bed and "tucked" them into their own flower beds. Folks may think that's crazy, but I think it's magical.

    Ok, so mote it be ... y'all. (I might have to get used to that.)

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  3. Awww, I love you! (I can just imagine some eye rolls from readers who think all this public mushiness has gotten out of hand :p)

    Well, I also learned that Friday is the New Moon and a good time to start new beginnings. I officially start the position tomorrow so I feel like that's a good sign from the universe. Thank you for thinking that I'm going to be awesome. My little candle reads, "Give me a warrior's confidence to do what is right, not what is easy". That's super important to me.

    I totally talk to the flowers and pumpkins. I even pat their little bums... partly to make sure the hose slings are dry and partly to make sure they're nice and firm. Plus, I really like touching living things in general. Tonight, my friend, I will officially tuck them in :D

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  4. Congrats on becoming chairperson! It sucks you can't take that course but that is a pretty sweet gig you got going. I think you will do a kick ass job! You can do it and you deserve it.

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    1. Thanks! I survived the first day of training! That's a start.

      I'll be able to develop the course and teach it... It just won't be as soon as I would like.

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  5. You take such good care of your pumpkins, they will be impressive (and delicious) once harvested! Even I could grow pumpkins on a balcony and I have a black thumb... Like your ever growing garden, you will grow into your new position and be the best you you can be (lots of you in this sentence, I hope I got it correct... ^^)!

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    1. That's awesome you could grow pumpkins are a balcony. Did the vine hang over? I'm curious if you used slings to hold the fruit.

      Thanks!

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  6. Aww, pumpkins <3 We have also one on our balcony, i hope it will survive! And i have also a "friend" like yours, so i can understand you... Best wishes for you :)

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    1. Ooh, I'm curious to see how you're handling all the vine! They're so much fun to watch grow :D

      Thank you! Yeah, the friend thing... Any advice?

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    2. Meanwhile I don´t contact her any more. She doesn´t really know who I am, so it also makes no difference, whether she meets me or someone else. It´s nice to meet her sometimes spontaneously, but then I go rather again my own way... I think it´s better ;)

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  7. My online and irl friends are a huge inspiration to me, you included!

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  8. We're all lucky to have Franny in our lives! But some of us (like you perhaps) are maybe just a teensy bit luckier than the rest of us BECAUSE YOU GET TO SEE HER IN PERSON. Not that I'm jealous of that or anything. ;)

    I kinda like So Mote it Be, Y'all. It's catchy.

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  9. "Give me a warrior's confidence to do what is right, not what is easy." Sounds like good words to inspire, and the core of a cool sampler.

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  10. I do hope that the person who is not appreciating the happiness in your life stops being so poisonous towards you! I am so happy that you and Professor Z have become such close friends. :D Friendship like that is priceless!

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