It was a beautiful lilac limb, lush and green. It had contained several flower blossoms in the spring. However, it grew so long and low that it was interfering with the sun and rain that the neighboring peonies and jalapeno pepper plants need. It pulled on the main branch from which it sprouted.
It hurt to cut it off.
My husband and I did it anyway.
It got me to thinking.
What heavy limb am I hanging on to?
Perhaps that limb is lush and full of life, but perhaps it is also weighing me down and shading other areas of my life that cannot thrive under its crowding.
It's going to hurt, but I am going to have to cut if off.
When that happens, will I, along with all of the people closest to me, breathe a sigh of relief? I wonder.
Until next time,
Tracy
I'm glad you're back! Love how you zoomed in on what happened in this small moment and what it could mean.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It feels good to be back! I am always amazed when I find deeper meanings/life applications in small, everyday tasks.
DeleteThis is such a beautiful metaphor. It strikes very close to home for me, as a person who does a lot of yard work and gardening, and also as a new retiree, trying to find my way with my new reality. On second reading I noticed your clever title! On second reading, I will be thinking about pruning in many different ways.
ReplyDeleteThank you and congratulations on your retirement! I am getting close to retirement, and I keep wondering how my new reality/identity will feel when the time comes. When I am no longer a practicing educator, what will my role be? My dear colleague and friend just retired, and this is something that I know she is grappling with as she adjusts to her new reality. Thank you for sharing your perspective.
DeleteSuch a great connection between nature and your own self. I wonder what limbs you will find…what limbs we can all find.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely think of more than one limb in my own life. Thank you for reading and commenting.
DeleteI am so glad to "see" you here! That line about what heavy limb are you hanging on to made me stop and think!
ReplyDeleteHi, Jen! How are you? It's great to be joining in again!
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