Find Your Happy Place
Your happiness is important. Where is your happy place?
Through the grapevine, I heard the Sherwood Garden tulips have been in full bloom for two weeks. I was hoping the latter was not true because I have a picnic planned next week for a small group of residents from Roland Park Place. (For those of you who do not know, I work at a lovely, not so little, continuing care retirement community in the city, managing programs and special events.)
Early Friday morning I took a stroll to Sherwood Gardens, which luckily for me is two blocks away from my home. Much to my dismay, the tulips are indeed in full bloom.
As I walked through the gardens, I noticed the tulips did not look as distinguished as they had in prior years. The flowerbeds always look well maintained, but this year they were full of weeds and other debris. (It is worth mentioning, Mother Nature has not been too kind in the past few weeks, as we have been experiencing an unusual amount of wind and rain.)
Friday, as I wandered around, I would find other things displeasing. I was nitpicking. I went one step further, conveying my disapproval to a fellow spectator.
I was admiring a bed of orange tulips when a woman came over and said, “Aren’t they beautiful?! Orange is my favorite color!” What did I say? Well, let me start with what I should have said… “Yes, they are beautiful!” I, regrettably said, “Yes, they look nice, but they would look better if someone cared enough to do a little weeding.” Simultaneously, I was thinking – “Someone put me out of my misery for making such a comment.” Sigh.
When things are not right in my world, Sherwood Gardens is one of those places I go to for healing. Regardless of the season, I can walk the gardens and do what is so important to my well-being, my walking meditation. I can sift through challenges, finding perspective and resolution – most of the time.
Today, I purposely went back to the scene of the crime. Why? Because I had unfinished business. I was determined to find perspective and resolution, and to apologize to the tulips.
For a particular work challenge, I am full of perspective. As for a resolution, I am not so sure there is one. Well, not for the immediate. Putting the latter out there and establishing a written timepoint is a breath of fresh air. Still, incapability lingers, but I digress.
As for the tulips, the weeds and debris have nothing on them. My Saturday morning visit allowed me to see what I should have seen on Friday, metaphors of beauty, delight, endurance, and resilience. Regardless of the wind and rain, they still persevere, and I will too. Sherwood Gardens remains one of my happy places in the city.
