Pruning + Weeding + The Cycle of Life….

There are so many things about living this lifestyle that have brought me such great aha moments. When you drift a bit to the background of mainstream life, the noise is significantly less disruptive. It too takes work though. The saying, “wherever I go…there I am” holds true. You don’t just magically change because you changed your environment. No, it takes intentional living to see any meaningful change. Removing the noise and untangling were big steps for me.

It’s so quiet that at first it was chilling. I mean if your norm is fast paced insanity, you may think that being in a serene environment is the answer. Maybe it is… eventually. However, at first you have the serenity that is trying to permeate your being, but your darn noisy head is so loud it doesn’t even know what to do!

I’ve always been an over thinker. Career wise it was my biggest asset because I was able to use it for critical thinking and strategic planning. Personally, it has always been a blessing and a curse. I spent the better part of my twenties seeking self help to quiet the mind. Whether traditional therapy, energy healing, books, seminars, retreats, you name it…I tried it. The one teaching that really stood out in terms of quieting the mind was seeing your thoughts as if they were clouds going by in the sky. You notice them, but then they float on by. You don’t hold on to them and obsess, they just simply move on and so do you.

I tried for years to absolutely silence the mind and finally realized that was the wrong approach. You don’t want it absolutely quiet, you want to notice your thoughts and then CHOOSE wisely which ones you want to gnaw on and which ones you will release. Intentional living isn’t something that happens overnight. It happens by choosing this thought pattern day in and day out.

We all get sucked back into our old ways, but when we intentionally choose thoughts that promote a healthy life we literally transform our lives. A book that helped spell it out for me was by Pema Chödrön, “Don’t Bite the Hook.” I used to listen to the audio version on my drive down to the Gulf Coast from Atlanta when I had that territory for work. I went once a month and it was a bit over 5 hours down there. I had plenty of time to think, that’s for sure! The content really focused on those thoughts that bog us down and keep us stuck.

I can’t say that I have mastered this, but what I will say is that in different seasons of life I was much better at this than others. Since becoming a mom I have struggled with this very much because as you know you don’t get much time to process your thoughts alone. My brain literally has felt like mush for quite some time because it was just so bogged down without much breathing room.

Being out in nature has been such a key piece in getting relief. The other component is the garden which has so many metaphors for life. I never in a million years imagined that I would enjoy pruning and weeding but I do! I’m so focused when I do it and literally lose track of time. This is so good for me!

We started the garden very shortly after we closed on the land. With the pandemic I was truly worried about what would happen when the supply chain got interrupted and caused food shortages. Some thought I was crazy then, but we all know it did happen. I personally believe that’s just a hint of what’s to come. Getting this garden going was a big deal for us. So we put so much focus on it and planted way more than we had planned to intitally. I’m glad we did because we have been able to reap the rewards with so many yummy treats!

While prepping the property for us to move here, there were days when I just couldn’t prune and weed though.  Just like everything else in life, if you don’t tend to things as you need to you end up with a mess. A few missed days led to tomatoes growing too tall or plants becoming intertwined. The same with the weeds….my goodness the weeds! If you take your eye of that ball, forget it! You end up with a jungle.

Our lives are so very similar. Let’s start with our minds. If we let our mind become overrun with weeds and thorns it can become like a battlefield. Back to what we discussed earlier, healthy thoughts equal a healthy life. If we let it go wild, it will take over just like the weeds do in the garden. Then you are drained, aggravated, and anxious. The daily work is so critical.

Another area we must prune is our schedule. If your life has become overrun with tasks that don’t add value, it’s time to reel it in! What things can you prune and weed on out of there that will allow you to have a moment to breathe? Running here and running there is like having weeds take over your life. Take a step back. A different pace is possible. Get off the hamster wheel!

Next, I always cringe when I write about this, BUT you also have to prune and weed out people. We all grow and change. They say people come into your life for a reason, season, or a lifetime. Weeds literally suck all the energy away from the crops that you are trying to grow, choking the life out of them. Are there people in your life who make you feel this way? If so, how can you spend less time with them and more time with those who energize you and bring out the best in you?

I will always touch on the financial because I think it’s just so crucial to living a more free life. What can you prune and weed out of your budget? Especially in times like these, take a hard look at what is making your money evaporate into thin air. Does it add value? Is it absolutely necessary? If not, prune it right on out of your budget! If it is necessary, see how you can scale it back. Sometimes we don’t need to buy things brand new. Look on Facebook Marketplace, Swip Swop, check with a friend, barter, you get the drift. Get creative! I was the queen of buying crap I didn’t need that I really thought I did at the time. You will be amazed how much cash you can free up and how this will help untangle your mind from those pesky weeds!

The last thing I wanted to touch on today is the cycle of life. Living out here has made this sit at the forefront of my mind. First, in the garden you see how it’s truly survival of the fittest. You have to make the call to cut things out even though they seem ok just for the other one to thrive. I had a hard time with this at first and that also led to issues with our crops. Those tough decisions lead to good things! Just do it!

Nature knows exactly what to do. In the garden, you just have to gently nudge it and it does the rest. You see how one day they look like they are going to die and then the next day they are facing the sun because you pruned or weeded. Some plants just completely take over. Our thoughts can be the exact same way. Don’t let it happen though, you’re stronger than that.

In the garden, you see how bugs and spiders are your friends and that they eat the other pests you don’t want. We do everything organically and it takes more work because you don’t just spray a bunch of chemicals that kill everything. Rather, you see the cycle of life and see how there is a symbiotic relationship that’s beautiful. Everything has a purpose. That always brings hope in times like this. EVERYTHING has a purpose!

The last piece of the cycle of life I want to touch on is us losing a chicken a few days ago. We were super sad because they became a part of the family in such a short time. However, you see how it’s even survival of the fittest with them. She was always the runt and was off by herself. We think it may have been something genetic as the other birds are super vibrant and healthy. What we saw after she passed is the other birds seemed happy. It’s like they knew something was wrong and were glad she was at peace. RIP sweet, Petunia. I know this won’t be the last time something like this will happen. This kind of living brings you so close to nature…you just can’t escape it. Everything has a cycle. This too shall pass!

What one small thing can you do today to prune and weed in your life? Maybe it’s setting aside 15 minutes in the morning by waking up a bit earlier or perhaps choosing to listen to more positive music or podcasts? There is so much in our lives and world that are beyond our control, but you always have control over your mind. It just takes intentional work. You can do this!