You Cannot Always Be Harvesting
June 03, 2016
At first, I was going to title this post “Happy Little
Things: Harvest,” and write about the simple pleasure of gardening. But as I
put words on paper, my thoughts took me in an entirely different direction.
This week’s “harvest” from my garden, if you can call it
that, was three yellow pear tomatoes and two stunted carrots. So much effort
for so little result, yet still, I keep at it. Kinda reminds me of my writing career (if you can call it
that). I’m putting a lot of effort into it, but I’m not harvesting much in the
way of finished pieces or paying clients, and I’m frustrated. But I also know
that you cannot always be harvesting. Just as in gardening, in writing, in
other creative endeavors—even in life itself, there must be times of planting,
feeding, nurturing, even lying fallow.
While I desperately want and need to produce fruit, I can’t
discount my need for the nourishment of instruction, time to allow ideas to
sprout and grow in my head, and time to simply do nothing. I’ve seen the
effects of neglect on my garden—nearly my entire crop of winter lettuce grew
without thinning, watering and weeding, with predictably inedible results.
In my garden, I’m in the groove now, checking it every day,
watering, weeding, and feeding as needed. I’ve got tons of lemons on my Meyer
lemon tree, plenty of blossoms and green tomatoes still on my plants, and a few
more carrots that might have a chance to grow into something edible. I have
green onions and herbs ready when I need them. I’m also working on tending my
creativity with the same attention and care. I believe if I keep putting in the
time and effort, the harvest will come. And when it does, it will taste
all the sweeter for the effort I’ve put in.
How do you nourish your creativity?
 |
| The sad little harvest |
5 comments
What another soothing and beautiful post...I have to say, you might not be harvesting in terms of paying clients, but your blog posts seem like a rich garden harbest to me. I LOVE the last photo...how the colors pop of the harvested fruit...
ReplyDeleteoops, I meant harvest with a v....
ReplyDeleteKathy your writing is a harvest in itself. Your posts always have wonderful content and you know just what to share. Sometimes the harvest may seem small at the time but the roots below the ground are growing strong and they will produce a huge crop if you do not give up. Hope you have a wonderful week. Hugs
ReplyDeleteRita--Thank you for your kind comments and encouragement. Guess I should sketch that harvest, too!
ReplyDeleteDebbie--Thank you, also, for your encouragement! I'll keep tending my garden(s). Hope you have a great week, too.
ReplyDelete