Courage

Courage comes in so many shapes, colors, amounts, and geomorphic forms. Some days courage is getting out of bed without stretching my foot first. Somedays it's driving a big boat up river between two dams, hoping like heck the motor that was acting up yesterday is running well today. Yesterday, it was telling someone I care about that I needed them in my life. Until I said it, I wasn't aware of the need, but there it was, and it was true. Scared me. I'm often described as fiercely independent. I bristle at the offer of help, doggedly keep going to finish something myself rather than ask for help, risking exhaustion, injury, but preserving the pride. But there is someone I need. Sometimes courage is speaking without thinking, realizing the truth of the unconscious thought, and enjoying the resulting growth of life and soul.

Blackberry season

It's blackberry season here in the north woods. They grow wild around the edge of my yard, and try to take over by putting up sprouts in the way of the lawnmower. I've picked three quarts so far, by sliding my way in between the stickers, climbing under canes, stepping carefully to avoid the unripened fruit in amongst the grass, and keeping a careful eye on the kitten to make sure she's just chasing snakes, not fruit! It's an itchy challenge, but so worth it for the jam.

Go with your strengths

Someone once told me you have to go with your strengths, so obvious, but not always easy to do... Especially when you're not really sure what your strengths are. I can see other peoples, but not my own. Things grow in my garden, but they don't flourish. So even though I enjoy gardening, probably not a strength. I don't have the money to make my house look like a makeover magazine, well, other than the before pictures. But I've made careful choices, so it looks okay. But I lack the patience to make sure the paint is perfect, and catch all the dust bunnies.

Strengths I'm aware of : baking, editing, listening, appreciating the little things that make my days pretty and interesting. Today, it was another berry basket full of blackberries from the yard, acquired with the company of the kitten.

Other strengths :hopefully my job, although I'm better at some parts than others. Poking the bear.

Not good at making other people happy. Hence the title of this blog.