This year, my green thumb has gone MIA.
With a backyard the size of a bedroom, and just a few various potted plants, I assumed the summer of 2012 would be a piece of cake. More specifically, a no-bake strawberry chocolate cheesecake. Mmm.
I've recently realized the slight challenge that has been put in front of me- the only means to water the backyard is with my handy 2-gallon watering can and my kitchen sink. Oh joy!
At first, it seemed like there was no hope. With the grass already fried before we moved here, I was fighting an uphill battle. Watering can after watering can, grass seeds laid out before rainstorms... and I felt like my effort had gone to waste. Where was the green grass?!
With the house to myself and the morning still young, I went out to water once again today. Little sprouts of green grass poked out amidst the flattened sadness of grass past it's prime.
Growth of any kind takes time. We can't expect to yeild results instantly. This is a society built upon instant gratification, yet how can we grow when this is the case? True progress takes two things: time and effort. Through consistency, change occurs over time.
When beginning a yoga practice, many hope to achieve perfect, "advanced" postures within a week of practicing. Such high demands, for the majority, can only bring feelings of failure. One of the most important things to remember when working towards progress? Begin where you are.
In the beginning, the amount of time and effort put into something can feel like a bitter pill. Where is the fun in, say, watering that dead grass outside? If green grass was what you wanted, going to the park for a fix seems much easier. Have you set a goal to wake up earlier? Getting out of bed can feel like the most difficult thing in the world before 8:00 sometimes. It feels much better to press snooze a few times.
We must watch out for what is sweet in the beginning, because often it will bring bitterness in the end. Coming back home from the park will leave that same yearning for green grass. Rolling out of bed, another morning late, will leave feelings of doubt in your own ability to achieve your goal.
However, what is bitter in the beginning, often becomes sweet in the end. There is no greater feeling than setting a difficult goal for yourself, and then reaching it. It will take effort dug deep from within, and it will take time away from other, more desirable "instant" fixes. Looking back to see how far you've come from the beginning is only more motivation to keep moving forward.
Just ask yourself this simple question: Do you want to live?
Then get out there. Set your mind to something, and achieve it.
Green grass, here we come!
(This lesson I learned from Andrejs, such a great teacher.)
With a backyard the size of a bedroom, and just a few various potted plants, I assumed the summer of 2012 would be a piece of cake. More specifically, a no-bake strawberry chocolate cheesecake. Mmm.
I've recently realized the slight challenge that has been put in front of me- the only means to water the backyard is with my handy 2-gallon watering can and my kitchen sink. Oh joy!
At first, it seemed like there was no hope. With the grass already fried before we moved here, I was fighting an uphill battle. Watering can after watering can, grass seeds laid out before rainstorms... and I felt like my effort had gone to waste. Where was the green grass?!
With the house to myself and the morning still young, I went out to water once again today. Little sprouts of green grass poked out amidst the flattened sadness of grass past it's prime.
Growth of any kind takes time. We can't expect to yeild results instantly. This is a society built upon instant gratification, yet how can we grow when this is the case? True progress takes two things: time and effort. Through consistency, change occurs over time.
When beginning a yoga practice, many hope to achieve perfect, "advanced" postures within a week of practicing. Such high demands, for the majority, can only bring feelings of failure. One of the most important things to remember when working towards progress? Begin where you are.
In the beginning, the amount of time and effort put into something can feel like a bitter pill. Where is the fun in, say, watering that dead grass outside? If green grass was what you wanted, going to the park for a fix seems much easier. Have you set a goal to wake up earlier? Getting out of bed can feel like the most difficult thing in the world before 8:00 sometimes. It feels much better to press snooze a few times.
We must watch out for what is sweet in the beginning, because often it will bring bitterness in the end. Coming back home from the park will leave that same yearning for green grass. Rolling out of bed, another morning late, will leave feelings of doubt in your own ability to achieve your goal.
However, what is bitter in the beginning, often becomes sweet in the end. There is no greater feeling than setting a difficult goal for yourself, and then reaching it. It will take effort dug deep from within, and it will take time away from other, more desirable "instant" fixes. Looking back to see how far you've come from the beginning is only more motivation to keep moving forward.
Just ask yourself this simple question: Do you want to live?
Then get out there. Set your mind to something, and achieve it.
Green grass, here we come!
(This lesson I learned from Andrejs, such a great teacher.)
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