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'Bloom where you're planted.'
I believe in the concept of making yourself as happy as you can, wherever you are. But I also believe in creating your own change, if things aren't working for you 'as is'.
There are limits to how often we can pack up our lives and try something completely new, especially when you start throwing husbands and babies and mortgages and family ties in the picture. This is something best done in the twenties, pre-permanent life. Not to say that it can't be done, but it definitely gets a lot more complicated.
I travelled and lived many places throughout my twenties. From Ottawa to London to Churchill to Calgary, I crisscrossed 'sans' commitments. But it also took time to develop any sort of roots or friendship base, and in some places they weren't strong enough to withstand my moving on. And aren't roots and friendship really what makes a place great? You can have all the culture and architecture and restaurants and cool things to do in the world, but it's really about the people (even for the introspective types like me!).
So if you don't really set down roots, how can you bloom? And if you don't take the time to nurture and love and relish in what you have, how can you ever be satisfied?
Today I believe that there are so many smaller things you can do to truly 'bloom where you're planted'. Like spending time doing the things that give you joy. Or looking for a job that doesn't cause you quite as much stress. Or seeking out like-minded bloomers. Or taking a class on something you've always wanted to learn.
I'm guilty of always trying to make things better, to look for ways to improve my life. but that can be done exactly where I am. I can better appreciate the place that I am planted, by getting the most out of it.
What are you doing to help yourself bloom where you are planted? Did you land where you are by accident or did you choose to grow your roots where you are?
Written with love,
Lenore
I think this is a great analogy Lenore - my roots are nearly touching the soil in Hawaii and the growing pains of trying to reach deeper can get a little complicated especially if you were used to a different kind of prairie soil. But it has been really a good experience to uproot and re-establish a life somewhere new.
ReplyDeleteSome of the things I've been doing: I took a chocolate making class, I helped out with a friend of a friends wedding this weekend (my first Hawaiian wedding!), I volunteered with a friend at a dog park, stuff like that.
I have high hopes for blooming in Hawaii, but I still sometimes feel my phantom roots in Manitoba.
I like your references to the soil Brooke! I did think of you when I was writing this post, and how brave it is of you to make a change when something's not working. Even if it means to have to start your growth all over again. The activities you are doing sound so rich and soul-feeding, I'm so glad you are going out and doing them. You are already blooming my dear and there is so much more growth to come!
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Lenore
Oh my goodness! I just wrote a post that speaks to this post. How funny. We were thinking about similar topics. I had to work hard to bloom where I am and it has taken a very long time but it has really been such a blessing!! For the first time in my life I have a real community of friends - mostly in my wonderful church and in the neighborhood.
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