Friday, July 08, 2011

weeding as a metaphor for life

tuscan kale and blue viking wellies
i haven't been weeding enough in the garden. i blame that i wasn't sure which bits were weeds and which were the actual plants i had planted. and with all of the rain lately, it's gotten a bit out of hand. on the bright side, it's a bit easier to tell the plants that should be there from the ones that shouldn't (the ones that shouldn't are WAY ahead). so we spent some time weeding late this afternoon.

there's some kind of strange peace in weeding. you can immediately see the results of your work. there is a sense of progress (as long as you don't look up or look around when your garden is as large as ours). it feels wholesome. and there's simply no way around it, you just have to do it. one weed at a time.

if i'd been able to stop talking to husband while i was weeding (i could feel that he wished i'd shut up, but still i talked), it would have been quite meditative. i'm going to try that kind of meditation in the near future. productive meditation. getting something done while meditating, that can only be good.

i found it very peaceful. and there's plenty to do tomorrow.

i've vowed that i'll spend at least an hour weeding every day. it could be that weeding in my garden will weed some of the other unwanted things from my life in general. like procrastination. and lack of focus. because when you're weeding, you have to focus - you focus on what needs to be there and what doesn't.

it might very well be that weeding is a metaphor for life.

6 comments:

heidikins said...

I love this post, I love the thought of weeding as a life metaphor. When I was a kid we lived in a small house on a big lot with lots and LOTS of gardens. My mom made us weed for an hour a day, every day, all summer. Of course I hated it then, but looking back it was strikingly therapeutic. :)

xox

will said...

Just exactly, what is a 'weed'? As a proponent of green neutrality, that is, a laissez-faire approach to yards and gardens is always best.

The aggressive concept of weeding is akin to invading another country and one must be extraordinarily sensitive and cautious about these things.

Deb said...

I loved your comment about wanting to stop talking and finally being able to achieve that...such good language for internal dialogue...that's a gift to be able to express those thoughts.

Blessings on your weeding in all areas.

Reena said...

I love weeding as well ... something therapeutic with ones hands in the soil ...
Love the photo!

Veronica Roth said...

Love it! Ruthless and thorough with an optimistic, meditative Zen attitude. My kind of girl!

Joanna Jenkins said...

I'm smiling because your gardening boots are blue-- I should have known :-)
Awesome!
jj