Creating Recovery

Weeds

Wild. Persistent. Prolific. A weed, by definition, is a plant that grows where it is not wanted. Some are toxic or invasive. Others are simply those that don’t suit our immediate needs and personal tastes.

The process of recovery is much like weeding a garden. We choose what to keep and what to set aside depending on the effect it has on us.

People, places and things that threaten to poison or crowd out that which you hold dear must be guarded against. Be especially vigilant with those that compromise your safety and peace of mind. Some are perennial, and will appear again and again. The good news is that, with practice, you can become quite adept at identifying and rooting them out.

Those that pose no real threat, but have the potential to make a difference in the quality of your life deserve special consideration. In this category are the people, places and things you either seem to have outgrown, or are not yet entirely familiar with. Some hold untapped resources. It may be worth your while to pause and give them another look before a final decision is made. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, a weed is “a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.”

The best defense, overall, is a good offence. Become familiar with what you want and need. Infuse your garden with hardy, healthy, vigorous plants. Nurture them. Delight in them. Your weeds won’t stand a chance.

I am the keeper of my garden. Today I tend it with choices that not only reflect my personal tastes and sensibilities, but also those that facilitate my growth.