Archives for posts with tag: gardening
A mossy wall; a tiny world all it's own.

A mossy wall; a tiny world all its own.

Here it is, already Tuesday. I feel vaguely annoyed with myself that life got my attention with such a firm grip that I simply haven’t taken time to write about it, too busy living it.  I’ve been immersed in experiences of a variety of sorts, some definitely share-worthy, some definitely too personal to make that attempt.  So…pictures and words, and a handful of observations…some without the context that would render them fully meaningful, but perhaps the words themselves have value.

I rode on the train with a young woman on Friday. She was headed somewhere unfamiliar and asked about the stop.  She was strikingly beautiful – always difficult for a woman her age (not older than 14).  Unexpectedly, she complimented my eyes, although rather shyly.  I stayed open to the possibility of connecting with this interesting young stranger, and we conversed as we traveled.  She shared her challenges with ‘the mean girls’, from whom she had heard how ugly she is.  I assured her that my experience was that ‘the mean girls’ are no more secure in themselves that she herself feels, and that the greater likelihood for many of them is that they will blossom at a young age, treat themselves poorly, settle for less than their dreams out of fear and insecurity, and slowly fade away into mediocrity. lol. She seemed reassured that she wasn’t alone, rather than pleased that any ill might befall even these who treat her so ill.  A very pleasant young woman, and I’m glad I met her. I hope she does well in life.

I ‘had a moment’ the other day, and really needed to connect with some very special women in my life. I took time to email them, reaching out as though we could just sit down for coffee – I miss that closeness with old friends; so many are so far away.  The first email I got back was rich and warm and long… and felt like we were ‘just hanging out’ talking. Wow. How is it that a few words between friends can have that power? I have so much to learn. I have hurt so many people who are dear to me.  50 seems a good age to be a better person than I have been.

A favorite rose is already blooming…still? Have I already shared?  I have, I see. Not that I think there is a real limit on the number of times a rose is lovely. 🙂

'Baby Love' in bloom

‘Baby Love’ in bloom

The sunny days in the garden over the weekend didn’t do enough to distract me from things on my mind.  I’m having a hard time ‘finding my way’ on a couple of things very dear to me…and one of them will require skillful confrontation to address, resolve, improve, or act on… so… rather than that big big bummer to deal with, I took lovely pictures of the sunny garden.

Even in real life, some flowers are 'magenta'.

Even in real life, some flowers are ‘magenta’.

Some of the pictures are quite mundane – I’m an artist, but I don’t consider myself so with a camera. lol

Some blue flowers.

Some blue flowers.

…it isn’t as if there’s some huge crisis happening around me (aside from the usual this-n-that we all struggle with)…still…lovely flowers, sunny days, wholesome young women, friendly strangers…any distraction is enough some days.

More purple than blue, still flowers.

More purple than blue, still flowers.

I have things on my mind that are important to me.  Hard to communicate the urgency or magnitude sometimes…at least to people who ‘matter’ to me.  Why is that?  I so want the easiest communication to be with those I love, those who are significant, those who ‘have a place’ in my life…it so isn’t.  I meditate…and sometimes find myself holding my breath, struggling to ‘figure it out’ instead of just taking a moment to be.  I’m already learning – and it seems solid and true like the surface of a rock or a table or the embrace of a trusted friend – it is being that makes the difference for me.  I can think anything.  When I take time to still my mind, breathe, just ‘take it all in’ and ‘let it all go’ – I find myself.

Future blueberries...very promising.

Future blueberries…very promising.

 

It’s a lovely Tuesday morning. I spent a couple chill hours over lattes and quiet conversation with a partner, (and friend, and lover) wrapped in harmony and love. I’d call it a delightful start to a nice Tuesday, but actually, I was awake off and on through the night, generally drifting back to sleep pretty quickly after footsteps, a door closing, or the sound of plumbing would bring me to wakefulness.   By 4am my day had started; I was awake, meditating, then doing yoga before the alarm went off.  Finding charming company, meaningful conversation, and love, waiting for me after I dressed for work was a bonus.

A metaphor? We dug this rose out of the ground last year, but it isn't giving up.

A metaphor? We dug this rose out of the ground last year, but it isn’t giving up.

My favorite April Fool’s prank this year came in the form of a blog post. First rate. 😀 I experienced a range of emotions as I read it, and not only got a relieved chuckle out of finding out I’d been pranked, but also found the content insightful and worthy of further contemplation.

Progress isn't necessarily about speed, as much as a sense of purpose.

Progress isn’t necessarily about speed, as much as a sense of purpose.

I have begun to understand that the most nurturing and supportive relationship I have, ideally, must be the one I have with myself.  Counting on anyone else for that seems less wise the more I learn about  treating myself well. I had an interesting moment recently, where it dawned on me that this process of learning to treat myself well, to be more mindful, and to be genuine is rather like falling in love…with me. I didn’t know it would be this way. I find it easier to respect and honor myself, my own values and needs, and my strengths, without having to deny or minimize my weaknesses, or skills where I could clearly use some remedial work.  It seems entirely acceptable lately that I’m not ‘good at everything’ or beyond error.  Self-acceptance feels pretty fucking amazing. 😀

Sweet spring flowers - what else needs to be said?

Sweet spring flowers – what else needs to be said?

Learning to be genuine, and practicing using language in a more clear and simple way, has had the interesting by product of finding myself very alert to evasion, misdirection, spin, and misrepresentation when I listen to people talking.  There are some fun bits to that, but now and then I am also faced with really hearing what someone I care about is saying, and experiencing how it can present an uncomfortable moment or two for me, and I’m learning how urgently important it is to take that moment and decide if I want to ‘poke that hornet’s nest’, or observe the experience and let it go.  I can choose to be genuine. I can choose to be candid, open, honest and vulnerable. I can’t choose it for someone else. That’s totally ok, too, I’m more than busy enough with me. 😀

A worthwhile moment for loveliness on a Tuesday commute.

A worthwhile moment for loveliness on a Tuesday commute.

The walk in to work was nice, and it felt good to feel my steps, and breathe in the spring scents of flowers and bark dust and mown grass.  I saw wee birds at play, slow-but-purposeful snails, and a rather fancy slug. My eyes and my heart were open, and the smile I woke with is still with me. Is life perfect? Nope. Are there moments that leave me doubting some of my choices? Yep.  I have some unpleasant moments, and an assortment of challenges, and I deal with pain every day…but I am learning to experience ‘now’ differently, and to value what feels good and to cherish and nurture what meets my needs over time.  I’m enjoying being this woman I am – and learning to do that mindfully may be one of the best gifts I have ever set about giving myself.

Being special is sometimes as simple as being who we really are.

Being special is sometimes as simple as being who we really are.

I’m in love. Have I mentioned that? It’s true.  Strangely, it hasn’t been a long-term state of affairs for me, but very little has. I’ve been in love for a couple of years, and I have partners who are beyond worthy of that affection.  Funny it has been such a short time in my life.  Consider this rose:

IMAG0341

Nozomi, (Onodera, Japan, 1968)

Not a great picture of her, but it’s early in the spring and there isn’t much going on with roses just yet.  This is Nozomi, a pale pink bud that opens white on a rambling, low ground-cover miniature type bush. She’s quite lovely in bloom, covered with pink buds, then white single blooms of 5 petals. She is also one of my longest ‘relationships’. lol. No kidding – I’ve had this rose since 1993. I purchased her as a young rooted cutting from Ralph Moore‘s Sequoia Nursery in Visalia, California at a very different time and place in my life. 20 years. I have no relationships with lovers, partners, or spouses with that kind of longevity, so far. I have very few friends who have been part of my experience for that long, and even family members with whom I am close have experienced vast stretches of lifetime without hearing from me at all.  Connecting is sometimes difficult for me, and I suspect I have not done justice to the efforts of those who have tried to love me…but somehow I have managed to drag this rose through 7 moves, 2, states, 4 career changes, 3 long-term relationships, 3 in-ground locations, 5 different pots, 3 balcony gardens, a community garden and 20 years…there’s a lesson or a metaphor there, I’m just sure of it. lol.

Yesterday was a festival of pain until quite late in the evening.  This morning feels like a different world.  I watched the spring closely as I walked in to the office this morning. I listened to birds singing. I smelled the fragrances of early blossoms opening along well manicured, landscaped walkways. I contemplated the impermanence of things, the passage of time, and what has remained of all the things that have been and wondered why so much of what I have clung to for so long has been all those things that hurt the most, instead of so many wonderful things that seem, instead, so fleeting.  I thought about spaces and moments I have loved most deeply, both for the relationships, and for the settings.  Some of my happiest moments have been in shared conversation with people dear to me, or interesting strangers. Connections. Words.

At home, I am creating a space for sharing conversations, and folding into it the understanding that being in a serene space often opens our hearts to being more vulnerable in our relationships, more candid in our conversations.  There are roses, and a ton of flowers, and a small bistro table and chairs for two, and every day I bring my loving heart to this space to consider what is next. I am eager to be there, sitting with a friend or lover, sharing a latte and a moment of quiet conversation, building my history out of happier building blocks; mindful, serene, and compassionate.

A quiet spot for conversation

A quiet spot for conversation

I’m more than a little embarrassed to realize that ‘the way I feel’ in the garden, that ‘different something’ that I’ve noticed all along…is mindfulness. Damn. How did I not understand to take it out of the garden and into my life? Well, no reason to be annoyed with myself about it now, it’s beyond me to alter what already exists in my history.  I am, however, eager to feel spring warm to summer and find myself with an iced coffee on the table, and next to me someone I love, sharing thoughts, and words, and continuing our history together.

As I said, I’m in love – and this morning, in my now, that feeling entirely includes how I feel about myself, my own heart, my own experience. I am an imperfect fragile vessel, and you will find my loving heart in the spring garden.

In the spring garden

In the spring garden