Tend What Matters

"If I don't walk the land, I miss things --the chance to head off a disease or to cultivate at just the right moment to ensure a bountiful harvest. These walks are a safeguard." Michael Albeman On Good Land

This morning as I was wondering around my garden it dawned on me the power of this simple, wonderful act. Walking and noticing

In the wee hours, after I let out our 4 ducks, (Lucy, Ethel, Ricki and Fred), after they are fed & watered, Thomas and I go wandering. He sniffs I look. The early mornings is my favorite time to wander. I don't plan it, but almost every morning, I find myself looking around. My brain is still mostly empty. I don't have a plan or a to-do list, I'm just looking-enjoying. I'm connected, giving my garden my undivided attention. I'm present. It's a lovely place.

One of the problems with clutter is how it divides our attention. With so many things stuffed into a time or space, your nervous system can't relax. It's difficult to be present or put your full attention onto anyone thing. A little bit goes here, and then over there and then ..... our attention is diluted. We forget what matters and are drawn to the next shiny thing.

Uncluttering is a lot like grieving because your hopes and dreams and wonderful life was buried under the piles. Lost from distraction and overload. Uncovered, those lost dreams come flooding back.

This morning, as I was looking around, I had this deep clarity just why clutter clearing is so valuable. We can only hold our full attention on so many things in a given day or week. When there is too much, we wonder off, give only a fraction of our attention and time. The dream isn't watered, weeded, fed and cared for. Nothing grows in neglect. Well, maybe dandelions- but they are special.

If you want something to grow, give it your full attention, give it a home, a place in your life. Water it, talk to it, visit it, wander with it.

In all my years of clutter clearing, I've never felt the value of simplicity of nourishment like this morning. As I looked at my garden growing, I know it's not my great gardening skills but my attention and care.

Happy Travels my friend. Travel lightly and fully present