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The Art of Slowing Down

July 22, 2013

“Sometimes you have to go slow in order to go fast.”

How many times have we heard this phrase? This thinking has been cited by many; however my quote today is from Chris Brady in his book A Month of ITALY Rediscovering the Art of Vacation. This is a great read about family, Italy, food, travel, and the art of slowing down. So much of our life is spent going as fast as we can to get to the next event, job, task or soccer game, that we lose sight of today.

Yes, we all have commitments and schedules and responsibilities. These have a tendency to rule our lives. The challenge lies in breaking the cycle of crazy to enjoy the moment. I have watched loved ones get so caught up in the stress of day-to-day life that it caused illness. The best antidote? Slow down; take a vacation; RELAX.

If you are at the breaking point, schedule some time away somewhere. There are so many great getaways not far from home, no matter where you call home. Make a plan and go. It doesn’t need to be Italy and it doesn’t need to be for a month. Although, that would be delightful!

Even as you go through the day, schedule some time to sit outside and bask in the warmth of the summer sun, take a walk, or sit on your front porch. Look around and simply enjoy being. Slow down, and see what a difference in makes in the grand scheme of your day, of your life. Have you ever heard anyone at the end of their earthly existence wishing they had worked more?

“We do not know the true value of our moments until they have undergone the test of memory.” Georges Duhamel

Much Ado About Tulips

June 5, 2013

In the Garden

I am in a quandary. Recently I learned that the proper way to care for tulips is to dig up the bulbs once they have finished blooming and the tops are beginning to dry. (Which is right NOW!) Yes, dig them up. Every last one of them. Then the bulbs are to be stored in a cool, dry place so that air can circulate around them over the summer. To be very proper, one should put the various colors together and label accordingly. When fall arrives, take said bulbs and plant them again. I was told from an authentic Dutchman that this is what authentic Dutch folks do. This technique would explain why the Dutch are known for their amazing tulips. They really work hard at it!

Ok, so back to my quandary. I carry around a very authentic Dutch name. Translated, Slager means “butcher,” which is probably why my family will have no part of ever becoming vegetarian. I get that. But, this tulip thing is an overwhelming task to say the least. Do I go along with proper gardening practices because of my last name? My dear husband reminds me how much we all enjoyed the gigantic tulips that I freshly planted last December. Breathtaking they were! I tell him that in my family (Irish, German, Slovakian mix) we keep adding new bulbs every year and it works out just fine. Then I get “the look.”

So, while I discern the tulip dilemma, I will plant some annuals that have been waiting so patiently for the rains to pause. I believe that somewhere between the dirt, weeds and worms, I will find my answer.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV

Less Really is More

May 21, 2013

In the Garden, Personal Development

It is gardening time in Indiana. I love it! My tulips have just completed a beautiful round of glorifying my yard and even my husband commented on their brilliance. Never mind that it was a temperate day last December when I planted the bulbs. Yes, the rest of the neighborhood was hanging their Christmas lights that day, but I was not intimidated. Perseverance pays.

As I prepared to plant my annuals and vegetables, I decided that some extra nutrients were in order to have a successful growing season. I loaded up on lots of organic matter and some fertilizer that said “twelve-twelve-twelve” on the front. A Master Gardener (which I am not) friend of mine suggested some “ten-ten-ten” to help my vegetables thrive, but the “twelve-twelve-twelve” was what I found, so I figured it must be better. My non-gardening husband agreed with that thinking.

Fast forward to today. It has been about three weeks since I planted some of my annuals. With each plant, I added the fertilizer and the organic matter to the dirt. Some of the plants look happy, and a few are now dead. Gone. What went wrong? In some cases, the plants are neighbors! How could this be? Turns out, according to the expert gardeners (again, not me) I overdid it with the nutrients. The soil was simply too rich for those little flowers. I now know that I should choose one or the other, not both. Some lessons are tough. In this case, less is more. I do believe that this thinking is best in many situations. Seems to me I say those same words every December when we hang our Christmas lights. Happy planting…

“Voluntary simplicity means going fewer places in one day rather than more, seeing less so I can see more, doing less so I can do more, acquiring less so I can have more.” Wendell Berry

Feeling Stormy? Experience Growth!

April 11, 2013

Hope, Personal Development, Spiritual

One of the really cool parts about our humanity is our ability to feel…so much. Like, the warmth of the sun on a summer day in July, and a cool breeze off the Lake. Or, the soft rain on our skin when we get caught in an April shower, just before the flowers bloom. We love the feel of happiness, when a day just seems to roll along in the right direction. Those moments when everything seems at peace in the world, or our world, at least.

One of the toughest parts about our humanity is our ability to feel…too much. When our child gets hurt in the game and is out for the season or someone makes a remark that cuts through our heart. Nothing goes our way no matter how hard we try. Illness zaps our energy and causes every bone in our body to make itself known. The thunderstorms of life have the potential to drown us.

So, what do we do? Such a blessing and a curse, to feel, really feel, life. Wouldn’t it be sweet to just savor the good parts and let the rest go? It would, for a while. But how would a great day in our eyes make itself be known if we didn’t have a less than great day to compare it to? We would never appreciate what it is to be well, if we are never ill. And I am absolutely positive that after a few months of winter, I appreciate my crocuses much more than a person who can gaze upon the beauty of fresh blooms all year.

We experience duality for good purpose. It is the only way we can grow as individuals and become who we are truly meant to be. Adversity builds character and creates a foundation that has the potential to become unshakeable, if we allow it. We don’t have to like it, merely embrace it for our good. Oh, and equally as important, for the good of the next friend we are able to help through the storm.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV

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