How Does YOUR Garden Grow??

So much is happening here with respect to Trails for Dale!! The scooter (Joy) is road ready, we have tee shirts and sweatshirts (thank you Betsy), and have already raised over $8,000 for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (thank you Mom and Betsy). What better a time to reflect on ALL the wonderful things we have in our lives. As we move toward accomplishing our goals it becomes very easy to look forward to the next without ever fully having appreciated and ENJOYED that which is "growing in the garden" right in front of us.

This became clear to me recently when I had the wondrous opportunity to travel with the family to a wedding in southern Oregon (thank you Sarah and Taylor!!). Oregon was beautiful with its mountains, rivers, flowers and undeveloped, relaxed atmosphere. I must admit that it was very difficult to leave, and upon returning home I spent some time lamenting the "what ifs" and "how comes" of being here in the northeast. Slowly but surely my perspective shifted (thankfully) and I was reminded of all the opportunity and beauty right here in front of me. A family retreat in Antrim, NH which looks out on the mountains is a short ride away. And so we went this weekend and felt the joy and peace of that place. On the way (on my scooter), I made a brief stop to a friend's home and she showed me her flower garden. It occurred to me that we can create, and do create, our own beautiful gardens, perhaps in our own way. But do we take the time to "smell the roses", to water, nurture, and enjoy the fruits of our labor. Or do we get caught up in "the grass is always greener" syndrome.

Dale enjoyed remarkable gardens. Dale was a woman who knew the meaning of reaping what you sow. Most importantly, Dale knew the value of enjoying the fruits of her labor and finding peace and contentment in it. So next time you find yourself looking "over there" thinking it looks so much better than "over here" , start looking for the flowers in your garden, and if you can't find any........start planting!!!