Last updated on 11/02/2010
It’s a sweltering Carolina evening. It was nearly a hundred degrees today, and it isn’t even summer yet.
After work I spoke with my mom and with my friend, Ana, in Seville. We helped each other count blessings, and together, we looked toward blessings yet unseen. We talked about letting go, and about about saints and angels.
So, after a full day, I came home and started pulling weeds. It’s a practice akin to strolling in a garden, but not so passive. It’s generally a sign that my mind is active and my body is feeling well. The heat didn’t matter, though I’m sure I could use a shower about now.
Pulling weeds makes my body busy, so that the racing thoughts in my mind will have some company. Thoughts of friends and family far away. Gratitude for jobs and for rest. Pondering the mystery of beehives, and trying hard to remember to water the flowers I planted in beautiful blue pots. Simultaneously raising questions and finding peace. My mind whizzing uncontrollably, and just fast-enough that every brain cell was happily engaged. Balance.
My hands got dirty. My hair, more than a little curly in the humidity. My heart, full and content. My journey continues.
There’s much peace to be found in pulling weeds…all is well.
Take good care,
Thanks, jooliargh, for the perfect picture!
I spent much of the evening yesterday pulling weeds too. I call it my ‘gardening therapy’ because I reflect on life and always end up feeling renewed as the weeds are pulled. People think I’m nutty to enjoy it, so I’m glad to see I’m not the only nutty one 🙂
Yes, gardening therapy…
When I see someone out weeding a big flower-bed, I sometimes think, “Wow, alotta’ therapy going on out there!”
Perhaps pulling weeds is just what keeps us from getting a little too nutty.
Thanks, Jean!
I think I’m going to have to pull some weeks tomorrow. They’re calling out to me and if they can do all that for you, goodness knows I should get something from my efforts. You have a beautiful, meandering, thoughtful writer’s voice. Thank you for this lovely post.
I think that was a Freudian slip, saying weeks instead of weeds (it’s the 7-Week Cleanse, it’s a monster project). Or maybe my weeks need some yanking about, who knows.
My guess is your weed-pulling will allow your mind to wander all over your 7-Week Cleanse, and you’ll come away with some fresh ideas. So, yank away!
Before you turn your Momentum loose on the weeds, I should tell you the secret…The secret to weed-pulling is that I just pull wherever I want to, and stop when I feel like stopping. I keep at it for as long as I’m enjoying it. When it becomes a task to be marked off of my to-do list…it becomes quite a chore! If I tell myself I have to pull weeds from here to yonder before I can quit, I’m so done!
Liked the piece on pulling weeds. Interesting that you find balance and embrace the whizzing thoughts. I have a hard time clearing my head when I work on tasks that don’t require concentration. My head gets too full of ideas, and while I may get the weeds pulled I often miss the balance. A yoga instructor read a piece to us once about drinking a cup of tea. The writer said that when we wash the dishes we should not think about the cup of tea beside us, because when we drink the cup of tea we will be thinking about washing the dishes. I’ve never been able to clear my mind and taste the tea.
I love that! Perhaps it works both ways…next time my mind is cluttered while I’m at work, I’ll think about pulling weeds! Well, maybe not. Anyway, I do love being intentional and enjoying the moment I’m in, and I cherish the times I get to take in the fragrance, flavor, and feel of a warm cup of tea in my hand. I’m always up for enjoying a cup of tea.
Take good care Barbara!
Being still for long can agitate the mind, but physical activity will make us more mindful of the present. 🙂
Isn’t it interesting how we each find our own balance between activity and stillness, in order to keep things in perspective. I think Goldilocks was onto something! 🙂
Oh I loved reading this. My mother is out visiting right now and pulling weeds is one of her favorite things to do with her daughters. It’s contemplation time – time together without much talking and with much observing. Reading this reminds me of why it’s so much quiet fun.
How tender and sweet….just thinking of you and your sister(s) out pulling weeds with your mom. My mother and I have always had a little joke about strolling through the yard looking at flowers. We often snickered when cars drove by and we were just standing there, watching things grow. Talking, or not talking….just being in the moment, and allowing Mother Nature to work her magic!
Thanks for the gentle reminder Aileen ~
🙂