Report From PIA – November 28
Two days past Thanksgiving finds me thinking that growing a garden is very similar to cultivating relationships with the people we are connected to.
New friends or family members, like young seedlings, need special attention. Behavior, comments and occasional lapses of consideration might be understood or excused by long-term friends and family, but misconstrued by those who are just getting to know you.
Seedlings are likely to dry up if left too long without water, and grow weak if the light isn’t strong enough. Relationships also need a special awareness in the early stages. Anyone who has started off on the wrong foot with his or her in-laws knows what I’m talking about. In the early days of growth it’s important to tend things carefully.
Once a garden is planted and growing, ongoing maintenance is crucial. Weeds need to be pulled, plants pruned, and soil kept healthy with applications of compost. Friends and family must be looked after too. We need to remove the weeds of misunderstanding, eliminate behaviors that might hurt others, and apply the good wishes and understanding that will foster growth.
Gardens need our particular focus in times of stress. We water during a drought, and brush heavy snows off shrubs so that the branches aren’t broken. Relations and friends need extra help in difficult periods as well.
Reminder to self: plant and tend all gardens wisely.
New plants and new relationships need careful tending...
if we make the effort to help deep roots form, growth will be stronger.
Once things are blooming, we need to weed, keep the soil healthy and be ready to help in stressful times.
