Life has been filled with the boring stuff of life. Not much in
the way of sparkly life things, very much in the way of taking care of life things. Landlord repairs, tax meeting prep, and finishing old projects.
Oh, and thinking a lot about boundaries as the new fence gets built. This week is the story in four
parts, and as usual a small blessing.
1.
Last week I
mentioned that the fence between properties is being replaced. Here is the view a couple of days ago, where there use to be a lovely tree.
I still hate loosing the tree. It was beautiful and blocked some of the noise and unappealing view of the business, but the fence was broken and falling down, rotting in places. It was not able to do its job and in order to replace it the tree needed to go.
2.
I am thinking of boundaries a lot as the new fence is going up; their importance and what needs to be let go of in order to have clear
and strong ones. I have often sacrificed my good and needed boundaries trying to protect or hold on to something that was failing and needed to go. Very similar to the old fence. Falling down, broken, able to be pushed over by the smallest of pressure, only held up by other forces.
While the tree will be very missed it was never its job to hold up a big long fence, and yet it did. It had overgrown its space, pushing into places not its own and was demanding its own accommodations.
Poor boundaries can require others to do work that is not theirs to do. Repairing them can be messy and have a cost, especially after long neglect. If done with honor and integrity though the result is healthier, stronger, ultimately happier for everyone.
Here is the fence this morning, glowing in the morning sun. It is taller then the old one and will be prettier too. I will enjoy the added privacy and craftsmanship of good work.
3.
It was not unkind to take down the tree. It was unkind to
put the tree someplace it could not thrive its entire life, not just until it became too big for a fence line. It was unkind not to tend it in a way it could grow that would not become a problem.
The fence didn't
fail at its job, it wore out. What was unkind was blaming it for falling over and costing the tree its life rather than tending and repairing it along the way.
Strong and honorable boundaries care for what they
protect and allow life to grow and work together.
4.
Show me a shimmery, wonderful life and I will show you gritty, hard choice boundaries strong enough to protect the tender growth of beauty and sparkle.
5.
A blessing for your week:
(from Woodland Wardens by Jessica Roux)
May you trust wisely and be wisely trusted.
Until next time, Sandi
Join me for some well boundaried creative time. A Muse Meet-Up is happening over on Patreon tomorrow, Saturday February 11 at noon Pacific (available for all support levels which start at $2/month). We gather and tend to our creativity in what ever way is calling. Another will be Friday February 24 at 11am Pacific.
Come hang out with me if you also want to deepen your creative practice. Details are here (or click below) or go straight to Patreon to sign up.
