The Gift of Blooming

Plant yourself in fertile soil and bloom!

Positive Pensées

Kathy King

The Gift of Blooming

“When you are in a dark place, you sometimes tend to think you’ve been buried.  Perhaps you have been planted.  Bloom.

Unknown

Are you in a dark place?

Is there much despair?

Do you feel dormant and feel lack of growth and meaningful care?

Is the light not at the end of the tunnel?

Can you not break free?

Well perhaps dear reader, you may just be planted to take root and bloom for all the world to see. 

Take the time, reflect and pray. 

Water your spirit with scripture or meaningful words each day.

Fertilize your mind with goodness, grace, and discipline.

Make it your purpose to grow strong roots that can withstand the rays of the sun, the pounding rain and the days where no rain can be found. 

Bloom the most beautiful blooms, and after you have taken the time, show others the true meaning of going from seed, to root, to sprout, to bloom.

Show your blooms beauty, let your fragrance fill the room

Show everyone that you went from darkness to light. 

Be the example of true and beneficial growth. 

I know that each and every one of us have felt like we were in dark places at varying times in our lives, right?  Perhaps you feel like you are in a constant dark place.  So much of life is how you look at it, is it not?  The cynic would probably disagree, most likely.  Maybe not.  It probably depends on the cynic honestly.  I digress.  We have all found ourselves in dark places.  Honestly, I have struggled with this since late last year. Health issues, family issues, work issues, house issues, etc.. etc.. etc..  There are times when it seems that they all pile on at one time.  That is when the darkness can, and will come in, take over and overwhelm you.  So what can you do?  For me, pray.  Pray lots.  I have started meditating with classical music.  Active listening (I am a talker that is a challenge for me), finding one thing each day to be thankful for.  I made a resolution for the New Year to say, “Good Morning” to my husband each day.  Honestly, some days I mumble it.  Some days I say it cheerfully.  I have only missed one morning this year.  Set goals.  For me, it is to publish my novel and two more children’s books before the year is over.  That is ambitious, and I may not make it… but they are goals.  My husband often asks me, "What are you building?" I would add to that... What are you planting? Start small, make your bed in the morning.  Have you ever heard the lecture about making your bed?  The idea is that if you make your bed every morning you will start a habit that will lead you to more discipline which in turn will help you go on to do bigger and better… and more disciplined actions. Also, what kind of soil are you planting your seeds in?  Are you just throwing it right out to where the birds can consume it? Are you wasting your time on situations that are just that, for the birds?  Are you planting on rocky soil?  The plant springs up and then dies quickly because of the shallow soil.  The sun scorches the plant and it is just not going to bloom.  Do you plant yourself amongst thorns? The thorns will take you over. I liken those thorns to life.  You are either going to live purposefully or life is going to dictate it to you in some way and as my husband tells my kids, “If you don’t make a plan, life will make it for you, and in most cases you probably will not like it.”  That way is usually the way of thorns.  Overwhelming thorns that keep you in a state of constant disarray.   You will rarely if ever bloom.  Or, is your soil fertile? It is filled with good influences, good thoughts, good reads, filled with a spiritual circle that can help you in the toughest of times. During your dark times, throwing your seeds to the birds, those physical delights that provide temporary solace.  They have no lasting effect.  The rocks provide a temporary solace.  Those things that on the surface might bring you pleasure.  But when the hard times come, the sun beats down and there is little water… well, you will wither. The thorns, those things that keep you from discipline.  Those habits that have never really helped but you keep doing them.  They will eventually eat you up in their darkness.  Or… can you gloriously, and wonderfully try to plant yourself in good fertile soil?  You can’t grow if you stay in the darkness.  What is your darkness?  Is it spending way too much time on social media?  I watched a news story that social media is single handedly destroying some folks because they simply do not know how/when to get off.  Is it politics? I tell you what, I cannot stomach more than five minutes of watching anything political these days. It is just too toxic. What is fertile ground for you?  Fertile ground is finding meaning in a world that is lost, praying, meditating, cultivating good habits.  It is spending less time on the screen and more time loving your neighbors.  It is taking a walk, learning something new.  One thing that becoming an empty nester has taught me is that you have to fill your time meaningfully.  Not always, sure watch that TV show, etc.. but find the time to cultivate your spirit and soul. This was and is a tough lesson that I am still learning to this day.  Find that reason for gratitude each day and let it set the tone for your day’s soil.  I promise you, it will come back.  It may take some time, watering and fertilizing but the returns will come and you will bloom like a glorious and fragrant flower.  I leave you with these words, “Sometimes the bravest and most important thing that you can do is just show up.”  Brene Brown.

Source: Make Your Bed William McRaven

My books are on Amazon!

The Quacktastic Adventures of Ellie and Lord Barks a Lot

Clean it Up!  Wash it Up!

Coming soon:

Appalachian Allegory

The Case of the Missing Honk Honk