Tag: Kindness

To Stay Planted

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My friend who I meet for coffee once a month gave me a beautiful mug. It’s a travel mug, which I didn’t have. I usually drink my coffee before leaving the house, so it’s rather liberating knowing my coffee can now travel.

The box has been sitting on the coffee bar, and it’s just as pretty as the mug. Every time I pass by and read the words on the box, the phrase sticks with me for a minute while walking through the house. It’s one of my favorite sayings, “Bloom where you are planted.”

I’ve written about ‘bloom‘ because it fascinates me. What does it take for something to bloom, and waiting to see when it will bloom. Nothing blooms all the time, but just like an actual flower, we have days where blooming comes naturally. It’s no secret 2020 has been a year, and everyone is anxiously awaiting a new year, but we can decide to bloom where we’re planted. To find contentment where we are, and to shower kindness on ourselves and others.

Do what you can, where you are, and with what you have. To bloom where you’re planted works best when you’re willing to stay planted.

The Basil Plant

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As mentioned in my previous post, the seasons are changing and some of my favorite things will go away till Spring. I’ve killed two Basil plants this year, but that didn’t deter me from buying one more. I’m not quite ready to let go and not make pesto.

Almost every market I’ve walked into has them in stock. One store had so many basil plants, they were on display like Poinsettias at Christmas. Why not buy one more Barb?

I told myself I’d bring one home, and if it was still alive after a week, I’d repot it into a larger container. The plastic container it was sold in has three holes in the bottom for drainage. I wanted to sit it in the kitchen window to receive some light, but I learned early on that wood and water don’t mix. The window sill is wood, so I found this little dish to sit under it.

Home from the market.

I sat it in that little dish up in the kitchen window for a week and it’s still alive. I thought it couldn’t hurt to sit it in love, love, love.

Here is what I’ve learned from the basil plant.

🤍 Don’t water it at night. Even though it’s more convenient to water it before bed, it doesn’t like sitting in damp darkness.

🤍 Just let it be. I see it first thing in the morning as I walk into the kitchen and it’s still alive! I realize it’s almost out of season and it’s slow growing, but at least it hasn’t died and that’s rewarding.

🤍 It reminds me to be kind always. It looks rather fragile and my persona shifts when I see it. It has new growth, but should be nervous for the day I plop the food processor on the counter.

10 days later. It hasn’t grown much, but it’s alive.

Maybe it just knows to move at a slower pace and enjoy where it is. Plants are a lot like humans, and we can learn from them, as this little plant reminds me to be kind and relax my mind.

The photo reveals I repotted it, slid the love, love, love dish underneath and sat it on the window sill. We would all be content sitting in a dish of repeated love, just like the basil plant.

To Stay Stopped

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I had a surprise visit from a neighbor.

I was vacuuming up dog hair and didn’t hear the knock on the door at first. I opened it to find my friend and her young son standing on the porch. Her little boy was holding a giant chocolate bar. He raised it up toward me as if to say, “For Barb.”

I love that my friend is teaching her son to give females chocolate at a young age. He’ll be thankful for that later on.

I posted this on Letitgocoach Facebook page this morning and have already changed my mind about it.

getwhatyougive

We are called to love on people.

It’s good to show them everyday, but I recently started spending time with this little boy. When I see him, I lift him up in my arms and love on him. Just holding him and listening to him talk, shows him Barb loves him.

Eventually, he wiggles out of my arms and goes to his Mom because she has always been there for him. It’s not the amount of love we give someone, it’s just that we give. Similar to other things in life, once we stop, it’s easier to stay stopped.

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Unleash Some Inspiration

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I gave my Gmail a deep cleaning.

Once I took care of the pile of email, I saw 12 Blog posts ideas sitting there.

You see my darling, I write from the heart. When I feel inspiration come from within, I take the appropriate pictures, or download the meme and send it to myself.

They sit and wait to be used. Some emails have a title, but the title is subject to change while typing. The one I’m posting today has been waiting a long time.

When you write from the heart, there is no schedule. My heart is full and when it overflows you see a post daily. While the heart takes a rest, you won’t see a post.

I also text ideas to myself, but that list is shorter than what’s sitting in email. I have about half a dozen ideas on text and they are more recent. When you over 50 and become inspired, you write it down, or soon forget!

Then there’s the ‘not forgetting’ you wrote something down in a moment of inspiration. Hence the emails and texts to myself. 🙂

The beginning is where we’ll start.

This meme inspired me on January 9, 2019. Let’s unleash some inspiration.

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In the Bag

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As I walked by the boutique window I saw this bag sitting atop a shelf. It was so simple yet magical. I felt that familiar shift of perspective.

Would it affect others similarly?

I walked in and purchased the bag.

It sits on top of the fridge as a dual reminder. One, for what it says, and two, to take it with me when I walk out the door. Some of the nearby grocery stores don’t provide bags for your purchases and suggest you bring your own. They sell reusable grocery bags, but nothing like this one.

When it’s time to bag my purchases, I’m asked, “Do you need a bag?” I sit this one down for them to use and be inspired. They pause a moment to take it all in and a smile usually follows.

bag

Anything is possible. It’s in the bag. ❤

Let them Unload

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Listening is an act of kindness.

Acts of kindness are sometimes intentional. I really have to stop and think, “What can I do today to extend kindness?” Who knew it takes thought!? 😂

I was running errands yesterday, and felt led to stop by the pizza place. I knew Boss man would be there alone preparing for another day of business, but I also knew, he’s had a rough week.

I walked in and found him sitting at a table, so I sat down beside him, touched his arm and asked, “How’s your heartbeat? Unload your week?”

That’s all it took for the floodgates to open.

heart

I just sat and listened.

I didn’t offer my opinion or any advice. I gently touched his arm when he shared something painful, just to reassure him of my presence.

Twenty minutes later, he was unburdened. He began laughing and joking with me as he walked into the kitchen to start lunch. He was a little more free to enjoy his day.

As I was leaving he thanked me for stopping by, but I didn’t really feel like I did anything. All I did was listen, but that’s all he needed. Let them unload.