I started gardening recently (mostly as a result of a bad deal I made with my landlord) and it’s turned out to be a surprisingly fruitful way to spend my time.
“I see the plant with fading blooms that I didn’t snip off today because they were pretty yesterday and it makes me sad that they’re not what I remember them to be anymore.
Cutting off the dead or old or no-longer-serving-you stuff is the best way to focus your finite energy on the stuff you truly want and need.
It’s not violence to remove those unhelpful pieces of yourself that you carry.
Pruning is care.“
Sometimes, I think I’m still trying to figure out what is still alive and generative versus what is dead weight. And I feel tension with not wanting to either cut something that’s just slow-growing, or hang onto something that’s truly dead or unhelpful. Encouraging to be reminded to prune a little here and there, though. Clarity can definitely come from pruning.
Also, I love the reminder to water daily. I’m a big believer in cultivating reverence and devotion around The Thing. I know there can be a tendency to clutch at things too tightly, and daily tending feels like it helps cultivate something that is so much lighter and steadier.
I appreciate you taking the time to articulate and share these timely (not shitty) gardening tips!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this (and little feelings!) and for sharing what resonated with you
The clutching things too tightly is so real especially if you’re used to massive bursts of focus. I find that I want to squeeze that thing to death when a nice, consistent hug is probably going to be much better for myself and the outcomes.
Oh man, this part really resonated with me:
“I see the plant with fading blooms that I didn’t snip off today because they were pretty yesterday and it makes me sad that they’re not what I remember them to be anymore.
Cutting off the dead or old or no-longer-serving-you stuff is the best way to focus your finite energy on the stuff you truly want and need.
It’s not violence to remove those unhelpful pieces of yourself that you carry.
Pruning is care.“
Sometimes, I think I’m still trying to figure out what is still alive and generative versus what is dead weight. And I feel tension with not wanting to either cut something that’s just slow-growing, or hang onto something that’s truly dead or unhelpful. Encouraging to be reminded to prune a little here and there, though. Clarity can definitely come from pruning.
Also, I love the reminder to water daily. I’m a big believer in cultivating reverence and devotion around The Thing. I know there can be a tendency to clutch at things too tightly, and daily tending feels like it helps cultivate something that is so much lighter and steadier.
I appreciate you taking the time to articulate and share these timely (not shitty) gardening tips!
P.S. Big fan of Little Feelings.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this (and little feelings!) and for sharing what resonated with you
The clutching things too tightly is so real especially if you’re used to massive bursts of focus. I find that I want to squeeze that thing to death when a nice, consistent hug is probably going to be much better for myself and the outcomes.
Of course!! Damn, I LOVE the idea of giving things a "nice consistent hug" -- well said!!
🫡🫡
good stuff
Thanks for taking the time to read!