New Beginnings

“In digging, we find the hidden roots that feed surface thoughts and actions.”

Many new beginnings arise out of an ending. For plants “to go to seed” usually means that the plant has reached its full potential and is ready for new life to come from what it produced. The same can happen with our life-circumstances. Once one part of our growth is complete, we “go to seed” and begin anew.

Unless there is a major upheaval, new beginnings usually start in the current state our environment’s soil. Before we are able to plant new ideas or actions, we want to make sure that the environment is conducive to nurturing growth so that positive experiences can thrive. 

One of the ways that we can prepare the environment is to remove unwanted or unnecessary burdens that stifle growth. We will call these “weeds.”  In order to identify the weeds in our environment, we should make a list of frustrations and identify the contributing factors that nurture our frustrations. Then, we need to decide what should be nurtured in those places. We will call these “seeds.”  In order to decide what seeds need to be planted, we should make a list of what will, when nurtured, result in a life worth living.  

Sometimes, it isn’t as easy as pulling these weeds from the garden of life. Weeds can be so intertwined with other parts of life that removing them immediately could stifle growth or remove what should thrive.  I need to figure out how to stop nurturing these weeds so that they shrivel on their own. Only then, will I be able to remove them safely. This is no easy task.  Discerning what belongs and doesn’t belong in our life’s garden takes paying careful attention to the reality of our situations and environment. 

This year, I will focus on cultivating an environment that replaces empty success with meaningful experiences,  feeling sluggish with feeling nourished, and interruptive sharing with active listening.

Already, this month, I started weeding and planting seeds.  I replaced the empty success that comes from spending time scrolling on social media with the meaningful experience of reading three books: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides , The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom, and Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis.  I also completed a Master Class on Creative Writing with author Margaret Atwood. This is one of those circumstances where the weed could be pulled and replaced with the seed easily.  I already feel like life is more meaningful and that my experiences are nourishing my personal growth. 

I have also slowly started starving the “feeling sluggish” weed by educating myself on healthy eating. I started to read the book The Plant Medicine Protocol by William Siff, LAC, and I completed a Master Class on the topic of Gut Health.  I put some of what I learned into practice by changing the first thing I consume in the morning. I used to start with coffee, but now I have lemon water, a ginger carrot juice shot, an aloe vera shot, and nut-based milk chia pudding before coffee.  I have also added kombucha to my daily diet, and it has been easy to refuse the occasional alcoholic beverage because I feel invigorated by having kombucha instead. My meals have gone from a plate of extra-cheesy nachos (which is my go-to meal when I am hungry and busy) to being more plant-based and vibrant in color.  These nourishing foods give me the energy that I have been missing. 

Being more of an active listener is going to be my most challenging weed and seed switch.  I feel like I have so much to share with others, and I thrive on being connected in conversations.  Instead of genuinely listening, I respond with a story of my own that connects with the topic that the other person mentions.  After reflecting on recent conversations, I notice that I was given a gift of trust with the opening of a door from the other person who wanted to share their experiences and feelings.  Instead of being curious and listening, I took over the conversation and shared my side of the topic and a story that showed “I understood what they are going through” (which, if I actually listened to them instead, I might have learned that I was wrong).  Because interruptive sharing has been nourished for years, I need to be very mindful in conversations in order to starve this habit.  

I encourage you to make a list of frustrations and ask yourself about the root causes of those frustrations. Label them.  Then, consider what needs to replace the space that the weeds occupied so that you can prepare for what needs to be planted and nurtured. Cheers to your new beginnings!