Okay, you can call it weird. I’ve been thinking a lot about weeds for their resilience and downright refusal to give up. Compost them, freeze them, flood them, and swear at them, the rascals never give up.
Weeds teach us tenacity which every writer knows is a must-have personality trait.
Weeds teach us we cannot control everything or at times much of anything.
These deeply philosophical thoughts came as I optimistically believed I’d won an ugly skirmish with Bermuda grass. Yanking and pulling, my mind wandered to the topic of how “weeds” can crowd our minds.
I’m in a season of life where I’m “weeding” out unnecessary clothing and furniture, and most-importantly ill-fitting ideas.
Are you there, too?
Good “homes” can be found for the tangibles, but the outdated philosophies, unfair notions and blatantly archaic thoughts creep back in when least expected, much like the Bermuda grass wants to take over where the roses grow. These weeds stop us, at times, from even trying to succeed or attempting something new.
Not long ago sitting on an ancient wooden bench in the middle of my garden, I felt the winter’s mild sun on my shoulders and heard mockingbirds shout their news. It was there that I began to examine the “weeds” of limitation that could easily stop me from trying what some might call a time-waster because it’s seemingly impossible and downright silly. You see I’m working on a novel in a genre I’ve never sold before and that is highly competitive. To accomplish my dream with the 80,000-word piece of fiction, I must write, polish and submit it to an agent and then a publisher without any assurance that it’ll sell.
But without trying, I already know the answer. (In case you’re wondering, by not trying the answer is always “no”.)
Wayne Gretzky, the incredible hockey legend, said, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” If I’m willing to sit on the sidelines and not try, then I will get exactly what I expect. Frankly I don’t like those odds.
May I challenge you to consider this a season of life to rekindle long-forgotten aspirations, goals and desires? That’s right. Take that class, get a certificate, write your novel, double down on query letters and spend time reading in your genre. Oh, yes, learn how to soar in a career.
Make this spring the time to weed out anything stopping or limiting you from achieving your goals. Yep, that’s what weeds have to say about writing.
©Eva Shaw, Ph.D., www.evashaw.com, 2019
Weeding-out is work of Accomplishment/s. I’m preparing to soar.
I know you are.
So good of you to check out the blog, Linda.
You are absolutely right in weeding out negative thoughts. Along with that should be negative actions or inactions. It is fine to have aspirations. In fact, it is encouraged by many to plan, scheme, and dream, do something, or anything.
Totally agree with you, Lois, thanks for the note. I’m becoming a pretty good “weeder.”
Great analogy using Bermuda Grass. I grew up in Phoenix where Bermuda is king and tough as nails to eliminate. But you are so right when you call weeds tenacious, popping up unexpectedly and taunting us to de-clutter and renew and uproot what is not working. Thank you for a great subject.
I totally agree with you Eva.
Here is something to consider in weed analogies…I used to hate weeds and fighting those tenacious buggers. Then I had an epiphany. About 22 years ago, I was studying to be a Natural Health Practitioner after a miraculous health recovery. I learned that all those lovely weeds were chock full of medicinal qualities. It’s like God planted our medicine all over the earth and nothing can stop them from being available to us. I learned every weed has a purpose; to heal us, and philosophically; to teach us something, to be a blessing in disguise or open our eyes to things we need to know. Now, I still don’t want weeds in my yard, or my life, but I appreciate them so much. I guess it’s the same for trials… I can appreciate what they’ve taught me, even if like a weed they were bitter.
Note: St. John’s Wort (Wort is an old word for Weed) 😀
I agree with you and while I don’t want that rascal, Bermuda grass, in my rose garden, I do appreciate how tenacious it is. Is there a medical use for it, other than making me stronger by yanking it out?
LOL…Yes…Bermuda grass has some great health benefits…it’s considered a sacred plant because of it’s healing qualities in Ayurvedic (East India) medicine. Too many benefits to list…helps with blood sugar, reducing acidity, antiseptic, ant inflammatory, etc. Check out this article about it. Maybe, after reading these benefits, you’ll harvest it, instead of just weeding. 😀 LOL. http://www.gyanunlimited.com/health/amazing-health-benefits-and-medicinal-uses-of-bermuda-grass-cynodon-dactylon/9177/
This is my first time on the blog (or any blog). I really liked the Wayne Gretzky quote. It hits home and it is inspiration for those times when I am sitting on the fence: should I or shouldn’t I. Usually when I push through on something (in spite of fear) I am happy that I did.
This is my first time to comment on this blog (or any blog) but here goes. I really like the Wayne Gretzgy quote. It hits home for those times when I am sitting on the fence: should I or shouldn’t I. Usually, when I push through a fear, I’m happy that I did.
Glad you related to it. It hit home with me and just makes sense. I felt like scream “Duh” a few million times when I thought about how timid I once was. Thanks for the note, Anthony.