By: Shawn Phillips
Who doesn’t love spring and summer? New life abounds. Old trees get new leaves. The sun and rain caress the earth and urge rejuvenation. The light streams in my bedroom window and awakens me sweetly and naturally. I slip on a light summer dress and some sandals. I want to feel the warmth and gentle breeze on my body. The birds are bursting with song as I enter my garden and I smile at the brave fragility of a flower. I walk around my house and note that not all made it through the winter. Some plants weren’t hearty enough to survive the cold. Some branches on a favorite tree seem dead. I’ll need to cut back the parts no longer healthy. I’ll need to replace the plants that no longer serve. I am saddened to lose what were once favorites but recognize the opportunity to recreate my little haven in a different way. Maybe I’ll add some purple. Hydrangeas near the screened porch? Climbing roses against the fence? I think I’ll order the one that is almost giddy with color. Gladiolus between the camellias? I daydream. Maybe it is time to create a little English garden—perfect in its imperfection.
I sip my coffee and philosophically consider the changes. It strikes me how analogous this is to our lives. Not everything in my garden needs to be changed. The core is good. Maybe cleaned up a bit but not a total revamp. There is no need to rush. In fact, the situation calls for contemplation, consideration and anticipation. I need to slow down. How often do you stop, get quiet and rethink your own life? I love a saying, “You had a purpose before anyone had an opinion.” Realize your worth and that your core is perfect. Remember when you were a child and your life seemed full of possibility? It still is! Then ask yourself if it is time for you to trim back portions of your life that no longer fit the garden that is your purpose? Are you living authentically and fearlessly? Are you allowing the world to see the beauty of your soul? Are you joyful? Are you taking time to have intimate conversations with friends and family? Does your body, perfect in its imperfections, delight you? Can you imagine casting off the anxiety that haunts you and trusting that it will turn out fine, albeit not quite as planned? The Divine made you perfect, and you were born with purpose. In our hearts we know that the Divine is deep within the earth and in the cells of our bodies. You are sacred and perfect. It’s just that sometimes we get so busy doing that we forget to contemplate where we’ve been, where we are and where we want to go. We feel a longing we can’t define. We worry about what others think of us. Some of us retreat to food, alcohol, etc. to feed the hungry soul. Something isn’t quite right, but we can’t put our finger on it. An elusive memory of hope and joy hides in the shadows. So we continue living the same way, not knowing what or how to change it. The beauty is that we can choose to embrace our uniqueness, our sensuality, our exquisiteness. Nature reminds us of this choice.
My advice? Get off the speedway of life. Slow down. Walk away from distractions. This is you time! Spend some time contemplating the garden of your life. Reflect on the memories that have brought you happiness. Find the core of what fuels your passion. What metamorphosis do you need to experience for empowerment and delight? After you have stilled the noise and listened to the wisdom in your heart, it is time to take some action. Trim back the dead, weed as necessary, add beauty in whatever colors suit you and rejoice in your perfect imperfections! Trust me, we can’t wait to see what grows and blooms.
Shawn says her goal in life is to be healthy, happy, and
help others. Like most women she wears many hats – realtor, small business
owner, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She loves to read, cook, garden,
contemplate the meaning of life, and laugh. Like Shawn on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ShawnPhillipsDreamGreat,
to reach her directly call or text her at 843-471-7315 or check out her blog at:
shawnphillipsblog.wordpress.com