Summer is here! Summer means lots of things. Sunshine, hot-weather,
and yard work are among the many items that come to mind for me.
A few weeks ago I was surveying my half-acre lot, making a mental
inventory of all I needed to do to get my yard in summer shape. I discovered an
area I had neglected. Regretfully, I had let numerous thistles grow underneath
an evergreen tree. The thistle patch was abundant. If only they were flowers. But
they aren’t. The thistles are unsightly weeds. Poking through the base branches
of my pine, alongside my thistle patch, was also a mostly grown mulberry tree. I
had willfully let that mulberry tree grow after a former neighbor identified
it. The neighbors who were extremely environmental
and health conscience had asked if I’d let the tree grow so they could pick
berries. That was a handful of years ago. Those neighbors have long since moved
and the only ones picking berries these days seem to be the birds that devour
the fruit and leave reminders of their diet on my sidewalk.
I figure I have two choices. Choice number one, I can utilize
nature’s fruit and implement the mulberries into my diet. Alternatively, I can discard
the mulberry tree in attempt to beautify my landscape. There’s no sense in
letting a tree so invasive grown unless I’m going to capitalize on what the
tree produces. The scenario got me thinking about the decisions I need to make
in regards to my writing endeavors.
It appears I’ve been so worried about certain aspects of
writing that I haven’t done an intensive general evaluation on “what’s growing
under my tree.” What’s impacting my writing holistically? Time management. My emotional
life. My creative flow. Lack of editing motivation. There are many things to
consider. The longer I go without a full evaluation the more work I’m making
for myself. I would’ve been more aware of the thistles and the mulberry tree in
my yard if only I’d made time to take a good look. The thistles are gone, but
the tree remains. The mulberries are still green, but they will ripen soon. My
days are numbered and I’ll have to make a decision and with inaction I’m making
a passive decision. It’s time to for me to weigh the options of my yard and my
writing. But in the meantime, why don’t take a moment, too. Do you know what’s
growing under your tree?
~Cindy
