The Young GardenersMyles Birket Foster, R.W.S. (1825-1899)
My mother used to have a wonderful gardening term whenever she was referring to getting rid of the flotsam and jetsam in her life: "Cut away the dead wood". It's a wonderful term, and it can be applied to so many situations in our lives. Without getting into the details, yesterday we had an exorcism, and we cut away a lot of dead wood. Is that a mixed metaphor? Oh, it probably is, but in this case it does apply.
Gathering LilacMyles Birket Foster
Often in life, things are not what they seem -- or even what they seem to seem, if that makes any sense. Sometimes we want everything to be okay, so we ignore all the signs that it is not okay. We all do it. Our intuition is screaming at us, "This is not right!" but we ignore it because we don't want to listen. We just want everything to be okay. If I just do this, or if I just do that ... it will all be okay.
Been there ... done that ... got the tee shirt...
When we finally make the necessary changes, it's as if the sunlight has come back. The darkness has been cast out.
In the 1970s there was a record album and book called "Free to be You and Me", with stories and songs by Marlo Thomas, Alan Alda, Rosey Grier, Cicely Tyson, Carol Channing, Michael Jackson, Kris Kristofferson, Roberta Flack, Diana Ross and many others. The concept was to teach children that they should be happy with their own identity, and that anyone can achieve anything. I believe very strongly in that concept. We are our own persons, and no one has the right to diminish that -- ever. Fear and intimidation are the weapons of the weak. Sooner or later they get found out for what they are.
It feels so good to cut away the dead wood...
16 comments:
You are so right!
I was shown "Free to be You and Me" a few times when I was in Elementary School. I loved it and recently rented it from Netflix so my hubby could see it, I still loved it. I intend to buy it some day as it is a treasure. I am very disturbed by women who seem to want to become "fembots". We should all feel free to be you and me!
That dead wood needed cutting. I'm so glad it was exorcised, and now the healing can begin so that eventually, everything actually WILL be okay.
I bought that album for my children and we all loved it dearly! It was wonderfully innovative for its time.
I also loved that album! Whatever the dead wood is that you cut away, I think it's wonderful that you did it! Hugs and lots of 'em.
I just came in from an errand, but before I came in and found your blog, first thing "up" on my list, I had to finish listening to this on the car radio: ("Click" to hear this perfectly-timed prelude to your "Cutting Away the Dead Wood"-->) Kid Rock and Uncle Kracker Following Marlo's Lead
Sorry I haven;t been around much lately. Life and computer problems. Deadwood can be sufficating if it is left to sit for too long. So good for you for you for cutting it away. That takes great strength.
It's allright to teach children that "they should be happy with their own identity."
I'm not sure about the second part of your sentence "and that anyone can achieve anything", as these children might end up blaming anyone but themselves for their failures.
yup!! dead wood, useless weight!! Let the sun shine in!! Great post Jo!!
I hear you! Freeing it is!
Cheers,
Jo
Outstanding writing of yours. If applied to the city and life over here, for sure much work ahead.
Please have a good new week.
daily athens
It's like starting over, a new beginning....never a bad thing!
I need you to come down here and help me get started on that!
And of course i want to know the full story that prompted this post. :>) But trimming the deadwood, in other words, pruning, makes things better.
I totally agree with you, Jo! Denial is a formidable opponent and keeps so many in undesirable situations. It's a good thing to "cut away the dead wood". Cheers!
Indeed it does. Lightens everything.
Very true words. Very, very true.
Just as a room needs a fresh coat of paint every so often, our lives need to be freshed up once in a while, too.
Most of us fall into habits and a routine life style. That is not bad but often it becomes easy to just keep doing what we have been doing and not venture out into new territory.
Fresh air always feels so good - and often it comes after a big storm.
I think this time of year is a good time to begin. I'm doing much the same thing.
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