Negative thoughts can be like unwanted weeds in your mind. A healthy mind and thought process requires dedication and commitment to flourish in a positive way.
I am interpreting the “weeds” as the “bad” or disappointing that happen to us. Over my (very long) life I have found that what I saw as a “bad” thing turned out to steer my life in a much better direction. Example: at a period in my life when all was in turmoil – failed relationship, victim of sexual harassment that forced me to quit my job, need to move to another apartment – by “coincidence” I found a job with the City (NY). I discovered that I loved working in and with government because I could make a difference on a large scale. Went back for advanced degrees in Public Administration and spent 30-plus years as a consultant to government and nonprofits and as an adjunct professor of Public Admin. I have dozens and dozens of other examples, large and small. As Richard Rohr says, “breakdown precedes breakthrough.”
On a literal level, I agree with Barb that weeds are only plants growing in the wrong place. I have let my garden go wild, and IMO it is beautiful.
The weeds of life have taught me “ you gotta take the good with the bad”. Not all weeds are bad, however. I have learned to be resilient, flexible & open. I have learned to persevere and never give up. My personal garden needs my nurturing and love.❤️
A while back I listened to to a podcast interview with Ben Wilson, author of “Urban Jungle: The History and Future of Nature in the City.” He doesn’t call them weeds–he calls them “spontaneous vegetation.” I’ve since read that term in other places and apparently landscape architects and designers use it a lot, but it was the first time I had heard it.
I latched onto this term, along with my memory of an old saying that a weed is only a plant out of place: A rosebush in a wheat field is a weed, and wheat in a rose garden is a weed.
I’m also increasingly interested in learning about edible plants. There’s a flat “weed” growing in the cracks of pavement in my neighborhood and I now know it’s edible and tastes like fresh peapods.
With all that in mind I can say I’ve had plenty of spontaneous vegetation in my life–something growing where I didn’t expect it, popping up through some rocks, maybe. If I give it a chance I might find it has beauty or flavor. If I only look at it as something out of place and strive for tidy perfection, I miss out.
And if nothing else, it can always be compost to help me grow.
I share a Morning Meditation I wrote in 2008 about weeds
Dec 29 08
My mind is a garden. My thoughts are the seeds.
My harvest will be either flower or weeds.
-Mel Weldon
Weeds are better than soil that does not have ground cover. Soil that does not have ground cover washes away and takes soul with it. Weeds can be our teacher. Weeds can bring challenge. Weeds can lead to risk and the development of trust—most importantly the ability to trust oneself. Weeds can birth tolerance and compassion and make room for flowers to grow. Besides who decided these plants we call weeds are not flowers? Yes, thoughts are seeds and it is when we think with duality that we lose the ability to have gratitude for all the expressions of nature. C. Conner
The weeds of life have been some of my best teachers. The essence of what I have learned is to trust myself, trust life, and it isn’t always easy.
I have been humbled by some weeds, and in my experience, humility and learning often go hand in hand. Here’s to weeds!
Weeds tell me that no matter what is done to them, they will be back, they will take their place in the garden of life. Persistence and resiliency to show up and be seen in spite of not being a favorite of anyone.
In the garden of life, the weeds have taught me the value of each person in this universe. Me and my friends for example, we would never be a dream of our parents. No parent wants their children to be born with disabilities, or initial cancers. However, we are still born that way. We are the weeds. A heart-breaking truth is not all the people born with cancers or disabilities could live. Whereas many of us have a chance to stay in this beautiful world and live a powerful energy and even share it to other people, who live with not missing physical part but did not know what the meaning of life is. We are here to represent fortune and misfortune. We are fortune for we have an opportunity to live. We are happy to be bridged to connect kind people when they gather to help us. We are here for your awareness that even though you lose your job, house, loved ones, at least you still have yourself with full functionality. Overall, even though we are cultivated plants or weeds, we live together and be part of a beautiful garden or terrible garden, which is up to us.
When I read this question, this is what immediately came to me, “Life is good “. I am 70 years old and I have learned everything always works out for the highest good. 🙏🌈
In the garden of life, weeds have taught me they are strong and grow threw cracks, some of pretty, some have medicinal benefits.
You have to pull the whole root to get rid of them and some sting.
Like life, good and bad pretty much.
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Weeds are just showing the potential for the flowers to grow.
Negative thoughts can be like unwanted weeds in your mind. A healthy mind and thought process requires dedication and commitment to flourish in a positive way.
I am interpreting the “weeds” as the “bad” or disappointing that happen to us. Over my (very long) life I have found that what I saw as a “bad” thing turned out to steer my life in a much better direction. Example: at a period in my life when all was in turmoil – failed relationship, victim of sexual harassment that forced me to quit my job, need to move to another apartment – by “coincidence” I found a job with the City (NY). I discovered that I loved working in and with government because I could make a difference on a large scale. Went back for advanced degrees in Public Administration and spent 30-plus years as a consultant to government and nonprofits and as an adjunct professor of Public Admin. I have dozens and dozens of other examples, large and small. As Richard Rohr says, “breakdown precedes breakthrough.”
On a literal level, I agree with Barb that weeds are only plants growing in the wrong place. I have let my garden go wild, and IMO it is beautiful.
Love this, Dolores. And as a fellow New Yorker, I love that you refer to The City —
Well done for you turning lemons into lemonade.
Life in all its forms, wants to flourish.
The weeds of life have taught me “ you gotta take the good with the bad”. Not all weeds are bad, however. I have learned to be resilient, flexible & open. I have learned to persevere and never give up. My personal garden needs my nurturing and love.❤️
A while back I listened to to a podcast interview with Ben Wilson, author of “Urban Jungle: The History and Future of Nature in the City.” He doesn’t call them weeds–he calls them “spontaneous vegetation.” I’ve since read that term in other places and apparently landscape architects and designers use it a lot, but it was the first time I had heard it.
I latched onto this term, along with my memory of an old saying that a weed is only a plant out of place: A rosebush in a wheat field is a weed, and wheat in a rose garden is a weed.
I’m also increasingly interested in learning about edible plants. There’s a flat “weed” growing in the cracks of pavement in my neighborhood and I now know it’s edible and tastes like fresh peapods.
With all that in mind I can say I’ve had plenty of spontaneous vegetation in my life–something growing where I didn’t expect it, popping up through some rocks, maybe. If I give it a chance I might find it has beauty or flavor. If I only look at it as something out of place and strive for tidy perfection, I miss out.
And if nothing else, it can always be compost to help me grow.
Love this 🥰
This question reminds me of the reading in the Bible about the good seed.
Happy gardening everyone.
I share a Morning Meditation I wrote in 2008 about weeds
Dec 29 08
My mind is a garden. My thoughts are the seeds.
My harvest will be either flower or weeds.
-Mel Weldon
Weeds are better than soil that does not have ground cover. Soil that does not have ground cover washes away and takes soul with it. Weeds can be our teacher. Weeds can bring challenge. Weeds can lead to risk and the development of trust—most importantly the ability to trust oneself. Weeds can birth tolerance and compassion and make room for flowers to grow. Besides who decided these plants we call weeds are not flowers? Yes, thoughts are seeds and it is when we think with duality that we lose the ability to have gratitude for all the expressions of nature. C. Conner
The weeds teach me that constant care for the garden of my life is necessary.
The weeds of life have been some of my best teachers. The essence of what I have learned is to trust myself, trust life, and it isn’t always easy.
I have been humbled by some weeds, and in my experience, humility and learning often go hand in hand. Here’s to weeds!
Weeds tell me that no matter what is done to them, they will be back, they will take their place in the garden of life. Persistence and resiliency to show up and be seen in spite of not being a favorite of anyone.
In the garden of life, the weeds have taught me the value of each person in this universe. Me and my friends for example, we would never be a dream of our parents. No parent wants their children to be born with disabilities, or initial cancers. However, we are still born that way. We are the weeds. A heart-breaking truth is not all the people born with cancers or disabilities could live. Whereas many of us have a chance to stay in this beautiful world and live a powerful energy and even share it to other people, who live with not missing physical part but did not know what the meaning of life is. We are here to represent fortune and misfortune. We are fortune for we have an opportunity to live. We are happy to be bridged to connect kind people when they gather to help us. We are here for your awareness that even though you lose your job, house, loved ones, at least you still have yourself with full functionality. Overall, even though we are cultivated plants or weeds, we live together and be part of a beautiful garden or terrible garden, which is up to us.
Thank you for your beautiful reflection. I am so glad you are part of this kind and caring group of people:)
Well stated Ngoc. Thank you.
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing 🩵
Thank you for a truly inspiring reflection!
Thank you!
Well said. Thank you.
When I read this question, this is what immediately came to me, “Life is good “. I am 70 years old and I have learned everything always works out for the highest good. 🙏🌈
So true.
They have taught me that I am never finished. As the Benedictines say, “Always, we begin again.”
In the garden of life, weeds have taught me they are strong and grow threw cracks, some of pretty, some have medicinal benefits.
You have to pull the whole root to get rid of them and some sting.
Like life, good and bad pretty much.