A Garden of Choices

I am just starting to learn how to garden.  This year, I planted my version of a butterfly garden.  Most of my seeds never took root and much of what I thought was my planned flowers actually turned out to be weeds.  It was devastating to me that green seedlings that I had cared for may actually all be invasive species that wouldn’t attract butterflies at all.  A few weeks ago, I admitted that the project had failed and I would try again next year.  Still, I was reluctant to make the decision to actually pull the weeds because I didn’t have a true educated opinion available.

The Decision

Yesterday, I saw a few large plants growing there that I assumed could only be weeds.  I even looked them up on an app to confirm a name of “amaranth” otherwise known as “pigweed.”  It was time.  I made the decision and I pulled every one of these that I could see and threw them in the woods.  There was vindication over the pesky plants that I felt had come uninvited to my sacred space.  It was definitely a decision based from anger and not wisdom.

Very soon after, I remembered one of the seed packages I had used.  The small green shoot on the “weeds” I had just picked looked much like the beautiful red flowers on that package.  I went to grab the bag of seeds in the garage.  It was titled “Love Lies Bleeding” then I turned it around to see, in very small print, “amaranth”.  Oh my goodness!  I killed some of the very plants I had worked so hard to grow in the first place.

Owning It

It was embarrassing but I needed to own my decision.  I had no one to blame but myself.  This was a great reminder that 1) Decisions made in anger or out of frustration need to be thought through before actions are taken.  2) None of us are perfect and not every one of our choices will be correct.  Still, if we never step out and make decisions for ourselves, we will never have an opportunity to be right about anything.  3) It is not helpful to sit and mull over our mistakes for hours or days at a time.  We need to learn from that experience and move on to new adventures.

Ask Yourself

Where have you made some incorrect choices?  Have you taken the time to learn from those choices and grow?  Also, have you given yourself the ability to move on and succeed in future choices?  Picture this: Sometimes even silly mistakes wear us down so much that other steps to success are ignored.  That is a very scary thought!

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Own That Next Step

We all have to make decisions.  Right now, some of us may be forced to make decisions that we never thought we would.  One person may be having to decide whether virtual or face-to-face school is right for his young kids.  Another may have to decide whether to spend the little money she has on food or shelter for her family.

Blessing or Horror?

We are empowered in so many ways to be able to decide for ourselves even when that doesn’t seem to be the case.  Many of us can choose if we will work at home or go into the office.  In America, we have the right to decide on a vote for our own representation in government.  We are able to choose what we will wear.  We are all able to make our own decisions for how we will respond to everything that happens around us.  Still, this is both a blessing and a horror.

Once we make a selection for how we will respond, we own that choice.  In many ways, it is easier to have someone else decide and then have them ready in the shadows to take the blame when that decision ends up to be incorrect.  I know.  I’ve done it.  Thankfully, I have been blessed with MANY wise mentors and most of the time they are correct.  Still, I have been surrounded by MANY wise mentors and that means it is sometimes a little too easy to take their advice instead of stepping out on my own.

When we step out and make our own decision it really is a HUGE step forward.  Whether that decision ends up to be right or wrong.  When it is truly our choice, we know we will have an opportunity to learn and to gain confidence.

Your Decision

I’m sure as you read this today, it has already made you think of an upcoming decision on your horizon.  As you make that choice, whether it is what to make for dinner or whether to move your family to a new city, educate yourself with the information you need, but find your own peace in that decision.  Own that choice.  Be prepared to defend it and not to make waiver later.  Admit if you’re wrong, don’t blame someone else for it.  As a result, no matter what happens after, you will be taking a step forward that will give you reassurance in making every decision hereafter.

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