Taking Root

I’m not sure there’s room for one more opinion. Like a lot of people, I’m watching things unfold and I struggle to strike the right balance, where I can observe and be aware without becoming consumed and anxious.

I’ve shared pictures of spring, my garden, plants I’m growing…a few funny songs and memes. Pretty much any snapshot moments where I’ve been able to think and feel with a sense of peace and presence, and importantly, a deep appreciation for the life I have right now. And what I've noticed is that it’s exactly the same thing I was doing before any of this began.

Online, I see posts with words of encouragement as well as more extreme, fear mongering images and rumors. Aside from the entertainment value of seeing others go off on a rant over someone being too concerned, not concerned enough, or somewhere in between, it’s not particularly helpful to me. And what I’m saying now is likely equally irrelevant. If it’s helpful, great. If not, feel free to rant. It might be the only decisive action you feel empowered to take control over in your life right now. And I get it…it’s scary to feel powerless.

I’ve been busy sifting through this new landscape and trying to make decisions based upon the information I have available to me at this moment in time. As a parent, we do that all the time. From deciding when a teenager can take the car to letting them stay out late so that they can experience an iconic pop culture event like a midnight showing of Rocky Horror.

As a mom, in many ways I’ve taken an approach that lets my kids learn as they go. Sometimes I can see mistakes before they happen. Sometimes they surprise me and pull something epic off (against all odds). The environment was one where the consequences were not as far reaching as what’s happening now. In this new reality, I can’t leave them to their own devices and let life teach them a lesson. The consequences are too great, impacting more than just my kids…more than just me.

When I started to feel overwhelmed and panicked about the future, I started planting seeds for my garden. And over the past several days as my seeds have sprouted and taken root, I realized that I’ve always lived in an environment that had uncertainties. Haven’t we all? Even the best-laid plans are met with life events we cannot anticipate or plan for. What has made all the difference for me is being able to let positive things take root in my own life. Things as simple as watching the sunset or making sure I step outside to watch it come up in the morning. It’s been a little like scheduling my life around the life I want to live.

I think it’s just as important that we not let the negative aspects take root. If we let fear take hold, it will take up permanent residence in our lives and prevent us from moving forward in any direction.
There is still a life to live right now. My future is as uncertain as it was before any of this started. I’m not going to make the best of it…I’m going to make it the best and let it take root.