“Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music – the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls, and interesting people. Forget yourself.”
– Henry Miller
Living a creative life demands a lot of attention. Attention is a way to connect and survive. Over the years I have discovered that living that creative life also calls for infinite patience.
I chose a slide show of flowers for today as I equate gardening with limitless patience. At the same time, one also requires a sense of adventure when adding new plants to a flower bed especially after moving into a new home during the winter. The plantings in the yard are yet to be discovered and during spring and summer the discoveries are constant and rewarding, sometimes more and sometimes less so. Patiently waiting for a plant to mature and show its true potential, then decide whether to dig it up to transplant or discard because what you are identifying may be an invasive weed, demands attention and decision making power.
Life is like that. Patience is something I have to work on continually. Yes, these days I am paying attention to a new yard and the plants that are still emerging but I am also exploring my new town and natural surroundings. I am meeting more people now that Covid measures are beginning to relax. I exercise patience and hone my observation skills as this town’s vitality is returning with the promise of cultural events, as I connect with newcomers and those who might have been born here. There is a certain amount of excitement that demands my attention. I love that I live close to the centre of town but am not in the middle of the hustle and bustle. I make the decision when to join in and when to stay on the periphery…
In my creative life I am connecting with artists and those who live for and support a creative lifestyle. Patience and the ability to pay attention are helpful as one gets to know the greater community made up of various personalities. I have lived in large cities and small towns and unincorporated communities. Each time I learned something new. In a small community one might meet the individual citizens over a shorter period of time but it also requires patience and careful listening to the individual to get to know and appreciate them. In a larger centre it’s easy to drift in and out of groups and take time to “test” the social structure, in a small town it is vital to exercise cautious enthusiasm and positivity while meeting new acquaintances.
Just like in one’s garden we observe and naturally gravitate to those whom we connect with on a deeper level through shared interests and experiences. As I get older I become brutally aware that my time is precious and my energy limited. Negativity has no place in it as it clouds my vision, diminishes my patience and prevents me from paying attention to the things that feed my soul. I love our new hometown and the wonderful people I meet whether I am on a walk around the block with my dogs or on my more remote beach excursions. As another newcomer friend keeps reminding me: “We live in paradise!”
Thanks for giving me a place to share my experiences and insights.
Wishing you a fantastic day filled with new discoveries. Best wishes, Anna
Fundy Contemplations... 