Thinking About Strawberries and Mom

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Is there a time of year or a season that reminds you of a loved one? Of course Christmas and other big celebrations remind us of our loving family and friends, however, is there another time that triggers warm thoughts of the people–or a person–you care about?

Strawberries are one of the markers in the year that does this for me. When it’s strawberry season, I can’t help thinking about my Mom.   I shared with you last week my childhood memories of strawberries and my Mom. Strawberries also remind me of her birthday. I think the strawberries celebrate her birthday, too, because they seem to peak right around her special day!

When I was at the farm picking strawberries earlier this week, I marveled at how there were loads of ripe ones close by for the picking. I didn’t have to range through the patch looking for enough to fill my quart container. Within a step or two of where I started, there were plenty for me.

Our loved one’s caring and love for us is much the same. People who truly love us are always there for us–only a step or two away.   They may not know how to help us and we may become frustrated because of this. If we take a deep breath and center ourselves, we can see and feel their loving concern even though all they can do is send prayers and good vibes to us.   We can help them help us by believing and knowing that they are thinking of us and sending us their very best thoughts and wishes.

Thanks, strawberries, for reminding us that our loved ones truly do care for us and want the very best for us.

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

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Thinking Thoughts, Part 1

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We’ve all heard that controlling our thoughts is the key to living the life of our dreams–our soul-prospering life. This is true; I can attest to it.

In my current situation, I find myself thrown together with someone who has a very strong personality and is incredibly opinionated. When I’m with these types of people I’m often overwhelmed by the force of their personalities. This current situation is giving me ample opportunity to learn at a deeper level how to control my thoughts.

When I feel overwhelmed it’s because I’m using the world’s judgment, values, and measuring tools to decide whether or not I’m good enough. I’m letting someone else decide my worthiness–or lack of it. I’m forgetting that, just like everyone else, at my core:

~I am good enough.

~I am awesome at being me

~I am valuable

~I am needed

~I am fully loaded with awesome gifts and talents

~I am capable and competent

~I am destined to make my mark

 

These statements are true about you, too!

Feel free to use the above statements and say them to yourself over and over and over again whenever you feel overwhelmed, intimidated, not good enough, or any other emotion that makes you feel less than. You are much, much more than you realize.

You are awesome!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

Back by Popular Demand: Wisdom from the Farm: The Strawberry Patch Part 2

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This post was originally published on June 16, 2014.

 

 

Let Ideas Ripen

Last week I used the strawberry patch at my local CSA as a metaphor for ideas (click here to be taken to that post). Today’s post is another thought I had inspired by the ripe and juicy berries!

Strawberries don’t ripen well if you pick them when they’re unripe or only partially ripe. They don’t fully sweeten. This is why the farmers at my CSA instruct us to pick only the berries that are red all the way to the tip of the fruit. These are the sweetest, juiciest, and most tasty strawberries.

Obviously, this means we have to leave the unripe ones alone, carefully moving them to the side in order to reach the ripe ones. We still have to check all the berries closely because, although they may be a luscious red at the top, they are still white and unripe at the tips: not yet ready!

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It’s the same with ideas. Many require our patience so they have time to grow and develop. Even so, there are always a few that are ripe to the tips—ready and waiting for your action!

Your homework today is to put to the side the ideas that are not quite ready to be acted upon. They still need time for your skills and knowledge and events to come together in such a way that the time is perfect for action.

In the meantime, there are plenty of ideas that are ready to go—juicy red to the tips—and they’ll keep you plenty busy. Act on these ideas! As you move forward, you may find that working on these ideas hasten the ripening of the ones waiting in the wings.

You can do it—you can take action on those juicy ones as you patiently wait while other ideas ripen!

I’m so proud of you!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

 

Thinking: How to Live a Soul-Prospering Life: Stop Thinking!

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This weekend I listened again to a few talks given by Eckhart Tolle that have been posted on YouTube. His messages made me realize that the biggest reason we may not be living soul-prospering lives is because we think too much!

We should stop thinking!

I don’t mean that we should shuffle along in a catatonic state; we need to realize, though, that our thoughts are generally negative and limiting.

We probably have recognized some of our default thoughts when we’re faced with difficulties or when we confront something new are ones such as:

 

I can’t;

 

It’s too hard;

 

It’s too much;

 

Ill never be able to learn;

 

It’s always one problem after another;

 

Why bother because nothing I do ever makes a difference….

 

But what about those thoughts that run through our minds that are just below our awareness?   While you may not be aware of them, you can tell if they’re positive or negative by how you are feeling.

For instance, if you’re feeling frustrated, tired, worried, sad, anxious, and other feelings along those lines, then we’re probably thinking something along the lines of:

 

I always get stuck with the awful jobs;

 

This is too hard for me;

 

My boss looked at me weird; am I going to get laid off;

 

It’s only 9:30 am; I can’t wait for this day to be over;

 

I’ll never make enough money….

 

What can we do about this, though?

 

It’s impossible for us to stop thinking and it’s probably unrealistic to think that we can completely eradicate our negative thoughts.

What we can do is to periodically check in with ourselves and notice how we’re feeling. When we find ourselves feeling negative, we should understand that we’ve allowed something to get under our skin and discombobulate us so we’re now feeling sad, angry, worried….

This week we’ll talk more about thinking and how to get a handle on ours. Come back tomorrow for the next installment!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

Wisdom from the Farm: Living Life Full Out

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Look out your window and you will see squirrels scampering in the trees, you’ll hear birds singing, you’ll feel the warmth of the sun or perhaps you’ll feel a soft breeze on your face.

 

The point is: Life does NOT wait around! Life is busy living!

 

Stop leaving your dreams on the table.

Stop putting your life off until a later time.

Your Destiny is waiting for you!

 

Take a page out of Life’s book and get busy living your soul-prospering life.

 

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

Back by Popular Demand: Wisdom from the Farm: The Strawberry Patch Part 1

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This was originally posted on June 13, 2014, nearly four years ago to the day! The subject matter is still topical and relevant today. Read on and let me know what you think. Thanks!

 

Look Closely!

I am a member of a CSA at a local vegetable farm and this week is the start of the season. Part of the fun of the CSA is the Pick Your Own (PYO) portion of the shares where members are allowed to go into the field and pick for themselves a certain amount of a few selected crops.

I always look forward to this because it gives me an opportunity to open myself to Nature and Its wisdom. This week the PYO portion is strawberries, which explains the title of this post!

When I entered the strawberry patch all I saw around me were rows and rows of green leaves. I was surprised that the farmers were allowing us to pick two quarts because, at first glance, there didn’t seem to be enough strawberries for everyone. As I looked closer, thought, I could see the big juicy berries; everyone would be able to get their full share!

This made me think of ideas and how oftentimes we don’t see the ones that are right at our feet. We think that where we are has absolutely no opportunities for us. We look with longing where others are standing because they seem to be smack-dab in the middle of a juicy strawberry patch of ideas.

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However, if we take the time to look carefully—get closer to the plants, gently move aside the leaves—there they are! There are our own ripe, juicy ideas!

Your homework today is to be curious about the patch right where you’re standing. Get closer and see what you can discover. And, since this is the end of the week and the perfect time for a review, look back over the past several days. Were there crazy ideas that you discarded without looking closer at them? While they may not be workable in their raw state, with a little chipping and sanding, and then polishing, they may turn out to be a shortcut to your dreams!

Remember, too, to celebrate the steps you did take this week—no matter how small. They all add up!

You can do it!

I’m so proud of you!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

 

Wisdom from the Farm: Nature IS Nurture – 3 Quotes

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Our lives get so busy with tasks, projects, and even with the goals we set for ourselves. We have responsibilities, obligations. People depend on us; we depend upon ourselves.   We’re pulled this way and pushed that way.

ACK! What are we supposed to do about it all??!

The answer is Nature.   Nature IS nurture! Nature can restore our balance.

We don’t have to travel to exotic locales or far-flung lands to be nurtured by Nature. While it’s wonderful to stroll through a cool forest or walk along a sandy beach, we can still be balanced and restored by a vase of flowers or a “common” houseplant.

When you’re with Nature, whether it’s spending time in a magnificent park or observing the weeds growing alongside the road, take a moment to observe what you are seeing and experiencing.

For instance, look closely at a flower. Notice how it’s put together, the richness of the color, and how its color is made up of different hues and a variety of shadings. Look how velvety the petals are and how they shine and glow in the sunlight.

Immerse yourself in that flower. Observe it deeply it will astonish you. Let it blow your mind and open your soul.

Here are three quotes that can help you get into the right frame of mind:

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. ~John Muir

 

Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you. ~Frank Lloyd Wright

 

Time spent amongst trees is never wasted time. ~Katrina Mayer

 

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren