Clearing the Path.
/I hope you are enjoying the official start of summer. It’s still chilly here in Wisconsin by the lake. The temperature was only in the 40s when I woke up this morning. The cool weather has given me a chance to tackle an ambitious gardening project, the removal of some older, struggling bushes near my front entrance.
Shortly after I moved into my home, I totally redesigned the entry. The previous owners had erected a fence that blocked access to the yard. From the moment I first saw my house, this struck me as off. Once I removed the fence and rerouted the walkway, I carefully chose landscaping that would create a sense of being welcomed. I wanted guests to feel drawn in, then enveloped in comfort.
Over the winter, several of my boxwoods were killed by the harsh weather. Nothing says, “Welcome!’ quite like a bunch of woody, dead bushes bordering your entry. (Ha!) The work involved in removing the bushes is ridiculous. I spent over an hour and a half on just one! As I hacked and dug away the gnarled root system, I couldn’t help but to think about how hard it can be to start over.
There is so much to clear away before we can even begin to plant again.
It’s just like loss. Whether the loss comes from the passing of a loved one, a relationship that ends, a job that is terminated, or a harsh winter, we still have to go through the process of cleaning up the old before we can truly begin again.
It’s hard for me. I’m impatient: I wanted it all to be perfect yesterday. I was warned when I planted those bushes ten years ago that I wasn’t giving them enough space. I didn’t care— I wanted them to look full and perfect RIGHT THEN.
Having patience with ourselves as we clear the path to rebuilding our lives is a key element in thriving after loss. I don’t have the strength to remove those bushes in one day, but I know can get it done within 2 weeks.
As I honor the Summer Solstice and longest day of the year, I’m going to sit out front and ponder what landscape I will next create so I can welcome guests to my home.
- Take a minute and think about what you need to clear up so you can take the next step forward.
- Where is your energy so thickly tangled up that new life cannot take hold?
- What difficult situation needs to be sifted through so seeds of love can be planted in its place?
Ideas are great, but it is ultimately action that creates change. The Summer Solstice is a wonderful time that supports the energy of change.
©Mollie Morning Star 2014 Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.
