Happiness Blooms From Within
JOY Contributor: Lacee
Hi guys! My name is Lacee and I am a wife, mom, grilled cheese lover and flower grower. I have lived in the area almost my whole life and know well how long our summers can last! This year is no different, my summer garden is still blooming in November. I love it but having the flowers still look pretty is starting to make me a little bummed. The problem is if I want fresh beautiful spring blooms next year I need to start planting them like now. Which means the clock is ticking for my summer stuff.
The flowers from last season have to go and as painful as it is to pull out what look to be like perfectly good plants it is crucial to the next seasons success. And if I am being honest with myself the flowers are tired and less fruitful than they used to be. I have to clear the field, it’s becoming the obvious move.
I think this process of gardening echoes life in a lot of ways. When we have new passions or goals we want to pursue there are other things in our current lives we need to let go of. Habits and behaviors that existed for a season but have maybe run their course and will no longer serve us moving forward.
As a mom/wife I experienced this first hand recently. My oldest daughter, Lila is in 2nd grade this year and my son, Maxwell is in kindergarten already! When school started a few months ago I was still sleeping in like it was summertime. I love my bed and getting out of it can sometimes seem like a punishment. But what I didn’t love was the frenzy of the morning. I would wake up at 6:30 sometimes 7:00, gasp, and then have to roll right into getting kids dressed, breakfast prep, making lunches, putting myself together (barely) all while trying to swallow a coffee at record speed! I decided to start waking up earlier. My goal was 5 a.m. even though it seemed a little nuts to me! But I did it and oh my gosh guys what a difference it made! Mornings were almost relaxed. This goal of a.m. peace came at the expense of laying in bed, which I loved, but was no longer serving me in achieving the mornings I wanted, which I now love so much more!
What are your passions and/or goals? Now is actually a great time to spend a minute thinking about it. The new year is fast approaching, like less than 8 weeks away! Are there things you want to change or develop? And if so what needs to be cleared from your garden? Do you need to sleep less like me? Stop the negative self-talk? Watch less TV? Prioritize self care, wellness, movement? Lean into what you want to accomplish and release what is no longer getting you there. Whatever it may be I know you can do it! I believe in you and have faith your better future is worth the work!