It's Time To Bloom

(Originally published in On The Road To Better Health newsletter, April 2023)

Tulips from Crystal Hermitage Garden at Ananda, Nevada County, CA.

It was a long winter. Rain and snow relentlessly covered much of the country. After years of drought, California got the rain it had been praying for, and more. And then some more. It washed out roads, downed trees, and pounded towns along the coastline. This was the coldest and wettest winter in a very long time. So naturally, I am extra excited for Spring.

To mark the turning of the seasons, I attended several virtual Equinox celebrations. A recurring theme this year was tending to our gardens. Not just plants, but also our spiritual, emotional, and physical gardens. This is a time to prune back areas of our lives that are overgrown so new buds can thrive. We need to pull the weeds that are draining our energy or no longer serving us. We need to plant the seeds of what our hearts and spirits desire, inviting new growth to sustain us for the rest of the year.

One speaker offered this quote which resonated with me:

"And then the day came, when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." - Anais Nin

Ask yourself:

How do I need to tend my garden today? What do I want to grow in my garden this year?

At the start of this year, I committed to stepping outside my comfort zone... trying things I had been dreaming about, but had not yet put into action. Staying a tight bud in my comfort zone has worked to this point, but the time has come to open up to new possibilities.

Like a flower blossoming, I must accept the risk of opening up. Being vulnerable invites the benefits of new opportunities. To blossom, I have been writing more, leading more workshops and educational events, planning upcoming retreats, and partnering with other small businesses. Making more room in life for these things means I've had to trim back other activities that I have enjoyed, but are not serving me to move forward. Every gardener knows it takes a constant effort to keep the garden fertile, healthy, and in balance - but it is a worthy effort.

I hope you will also face the risk of blooming into your next beautiful stage of life.