Spring is on its way, it will be here sooner that we think, and that means we will also be getting our gardens ready. Cleaning them out, making room for the new plants and layouts we want to do. Anyone who knows me knows I love to redecorate to rethink my home and gardens. I am forever redoing my gardens, moving and adding things, coming up with new ways to make the outside of my home to look inviting to all. I do the same on the inside; I love to move things around, find new uses for existing items. If I could I would redo my house every 3 years or so, but it takes money, so I settle for just a simple reuse formula.
I am the same with my holiday decorations, every 3 years or so I give everything away and get all new, I don’t like to have the same stuff up year after year. It’s a habit of mine that drives my family and friends nuts. Most people will keep the same decorations from year to year. They go in the exact same spot, year after year. To me it’s silly; it’s a new year, things change. We would not wear the same outfit day after day, so why should we expect our home to.
The same can be said for ourselves, why would we want to be that same person year after year? We need to grow, to expand who we are. Now please read the next line very slowly and carefully:
This does not mean that we change ourselves with whatever the lattes fashion is, we do not sell our morals or ethics off to be in the “In Crowed”. Do stretch yourself, learn more and grow in your faith and your core values.
We are more often willing to do the hard work for others, but not for ourselves.
We are more than willing to help our friends tear down walls and build new spaces than we are willing to tear down our own walls. We are willing to do the hard work for others but not for ourselves.
We need to first help ourselves grow before we help others, we must look at our own self and determine what needs to be redone and what can remain. We need to learn to rethink ourselves and to learn to do the hard work that follows.
Like working in our gardens in the spring time, lots of work, lots of junk to toss out, the same can be said for ourselves. But at the end, when all is in bloom, we know the effort was well worth it, and that we have created a welcoming environment for all.
Paul
