I took a notion I wanted to plant some bulbs at the weekend. The last time I took the same notion I remember feeling a bit like Greta Garbo when she famously said “I want to be alone.” Life does that to us sometimes. This life is not for wimps and neither is gardening. The last time I took a gardening notion I bought a couple of pretty gardening books. After hours poring over them I tried out a few ideas. I found out very quickly my seeds and offerings weren’t reading the same books as me because they didn’t behave in any way the book said they would…a bit like life really.
My first born came and sat near me as I dug down into the damp dark earth. He read out one of his poems to me which was inspired by a quote by Albert Camus “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.” As we chatted between the silences it was as if the whole of nature was listening, waiting, inviting us to just be and enjoy the peace within us and around us. The two greatest things about nature is that it costs us absolutely nothing and it is available to us at every moment of every day. We don’t even have to go anywhere. Just step outside your door and you are sure to find something natural to admire and enjoy. Even if your physical limits and low mood keeps you from going outside, you can find some comfort by simply looking out your window, watching the sunrise, the sunset, the clouds rolling by, birds, rabbits and the flowers springing up like magic. One of the most amazing aspects is how it takes very little for something to sprout up and grow. As I hunkered down with my seeds I glanced at my first born running his hands through his hair, thinking, chewing on his pencil. He likes to create something organically with a pencil and notebook. A million trillion images ran through my mind of my children sprouting into adults and now philosophising about the ways of the world and the human condition just like Albert Camus once did. It is a positive quote, the one that influenced my son’s writing and I am glad because we need all the positivity we can get. Some days, no matter how many blessings you count in your life, the world seems dark. Depression, fear and stark reminders that life is unpredictable, that worlds can fall apart suddenly and mercilessly can all contribute to moments when you feel like giving up. As I poked the ground and made an effort to create growth a thought struck me. No matter how dark the earth is or how amateur the gardener is, nature never gives up. It finds a way through the cracks, slowly, silently, with great persistence bursting into the light much like the invincible summer Camus found within him. To get through life’s dark tunnels, we must hold on to hope and have courage which reminds me of another inspirational quote by the author Mary Anne Radmacher “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”
Comentários