A walk at Gibbs Gardens

I’ve learned anything it’s that we can never let the chaos and injustice make us so blind with anger that we become part of the problem. Understanding, compassion, kindness and love are the only true revolutionary ideas. When we compromise those we become what we despise. And we lose our Humanity.

There are times when we just need to go someplace quiet and still and really think. There are times one of the best things we can do in order to plan our next move, or what we want our life to be, is to look within ourselves. 

When we find ourselves looking around thinking this isn’t where I’m supposed to be, or asking how did I get here? And trying to figure out how we get from where we are to where we want to be, sometimes we just need some place to think.

I was at Gibbs Gardens today. I went there once last year and I remembered it as being beautiful and quiet and still and lovely and peaceful.  I needed that today. I needed to commune and be quiet with nature. I did not want the normal hike and challenge that I usually do. 

The gardens were almost empty since it’s during the week, but there were a surprising amount of mothers and daughters walking around talking and smiling. It made me miss my own. Because this is the kind of place Mom would love, like some people love museums or aquariums. And in my imagination, I can see us walking around the beautiful gardens while talking about life, and politics, and everything in between, and having many many laughs like we always did before she got sick.

I went to the Japanese Garden with the Japanese maples. All of my life I’ve love Japanese Maples because they seem to be love, just in the shape of a tree. Maybe it’s because I’m seeking love right now in all forms. 

I wanted to come here and be and think and be quiet and still. I see the flowers and the trees and butterflies. Maybe I just needed some time to reflect away from the busy life that has happened so quickly in the last few weeks.

I always get strength and peace from nature and being outside, just like my Mom.  Many people have told me that I am the strongest person that they know, but she was the strongest person I have ever known. She was much stronger than I. But I am my Mother’s daughter, and with God, I can do and overcome anything.

So when you’re coming out of a hard time, and you’re trying to figure out just how to rebuild, how to regain your steps, how to get where it is you want to be, find what inspires you. You pray, you reach deep down inside where the Soul Meets the heart, and the heart beat reaches your mind, and you go even deeper, and you pull yourself up.

When you’ve been through a hard time, and you’re trying hard not to become angry and bitter, or an empty shell of a human being like you seen others become. Go someplace quiet and look Within. Pray. And listen, never soft Whisper of God’s voice.

The hardest things are the most important because how you handle them defines who you are. Life won’t always be easy, but if we can have faith and find what inspired us, who makes us want to be better than we ever thought we could be, we will be ok. 

There will still be bad days, and hard times, when we are insecure and unsure and even scared. And that’s okay.
Because it’s never too late to start over, it’s never too late to rebuild, it’s never too late to change direction, it’s never too late for the life you want to build.