It doesn’t seem that long ago that Joe and I hit the nursery for some new plants. We inherited several with this house, but I was longing for more color, and to put our stamp on the land. We may or may not have dropped some coin. It was all going to be worth it though, once the plants took off and color bathed this blank slate of ours.
Only that wasn’t quite what happened. Not for lack of love (or water), about half the plants died off before the end of a month. I’m thinking they were placed in the wrong part of our yard, needing more sun. Alas, a seasoned gardener I am not.
But a funny thing happened.
We’d been given two teeny tiny Impatiens plants at a baby shower and I had haphazardly planted them in our main garden, and then promptly forgot all about them. We had placed some beautiful yellow flowering plants, and purple stalky plants in the same area and those garnered much more of my attention. They’re still alive, and giving us dashes of color, but that’s not what’s funny.
What struck me yesterday as I ventured out into the sun after days and days of rain is that those Impatiens plants had just gone nuts. They must be ten times bigger than they were when I planted them and they are bursting with delicate pink flowers. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to plant them when I first got them, thinking they were too ordinary. But without them there the garden would look empty and monotone. So, here they are now, taking center stage in my garden, and being the main source of the color that draws me outside each day, to sit and savor.
That happens though, doesn’t it? The things we put all our efforts into don’t flourish the way we’d hope, while the things that happen easily, or sometimes all on their own, can take off without us even noticing. Lucky for me these little babies have bright pink petals to get my attention, to say to me, “Hey lady! Enjoy what you have right here, right now, even if it’s not necessarily what you were aiming for!” Sure I was really looking forward to seeing my other prize plants go gangbusters, but they haven’t. And had I remained focused on that fact alone, I never would have even seen the little darlings that pretty much took care of themselves.
All I really wanted was a colorful garden, plants that looked healthy and full. And that’s exactly what I got, just not in the way I had planned. It’s got me thinking there are probably parts of my life that are flourishing beautifully, but I’m missing out on enjoying, for all the time I spend only seeing the bare spots.
What if rather than living life by force I just tend to that which seems effortless?
What if what was “easy” wasn’t the thing I turned away from so I could focus on what was “hard”, but rather that what was EASY was the thing I showered with attention and care?
What if the fruits of effortlessness were just as good, and satisfying, and worthy as the fruits of labor?
What if I stopped living a life where my sense of self worth was dictated by how hard I’d struggled, but instead by how much I’d allowed myself to enjoy?
Even if all I’m enjoying is a sunny day and some pink Impatiens plants…
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