all the reasons not to start
Those who hesitate are lost. Paralysis by analysis. You’ve heard these expressions. Well these feelings of hesitation and self doubt must be beaten into submission. Life is just too short.
There are always so many reasons not to start. They sound reasonable too; maybe I should make a plan first, get prepared, finish this or start that. Often there are many steps back before we can step forward. But while you’re making lists and getting ready, the window quietly closes.
Don’t let that happen. When I feel hesitation creeping in, I begin small. I push the mower out. Line up the ingredients on the bench. Set my shoes by the door for the walk. Put a stamp on the envelope. Print the form. Find a pen.
A tiny start is often all it takes. One small action loosens the stillness, and before you know it, you’re moving.
I finally have my Aussie Working With Children’s license, there were a number of steps (at one point I threw up my hands in disgust and let Daughter take over - form filling-out is not my best thing) but I am approved. So, today I will make a little digital handout of who I am and what I can do. And soon I will do a soft launch of my Granny Nanny business. Mothers need help. Many mothers are so isolated nowadays. And women my age are perfectly placed to help. I just need a gentle push back out into the market place again!
And the only person to do the pushing is me.
I was a professional nanny years ago in some big houses in the UK, (oh the stories!) even mentored young Nannie’s in London - so this is a job I am confident in. And until Daughter goes back to work - I have time. Wish me luck!
Yesterday I took mint cuttings. Planted more beans. Cleaned and filled the new baby book case. Got three loads of washing on the clothesline and back off again, it was 30c yesterday (that is 86f) and blowing so I changed beds as well. We have gone from hoodies to hot in 24 hours.
I have sunflowers growing all through the gardens. They are great for helping to support tomatoes and cucumbers and peas and beans. Sunflowers are hungry though so I will make sure to keep adding compost two or three times a season.
Sunflowers look so cheerful too!
I have one more packet to go in soon. So there will be a succession of flowers.
My posts are always heavy on images. As you know I begin my daily posts with the daily pictures. Not every photo will be a beauty but just go with it! The most important thing is that every photo tells a story.
All day as I look at the world go by I am saying to myself ‘there’s the shot’; silently framing images, watching the changes in the light, peering into shadows for detail. I can almost hear the click and wind as the camera moves the film forward a frame and I visually catalog a day. For you.
The pots are watered every evening with water from the baby’s bath. So they are all doing super well. The trace of soap in the water helps repel root eating insects like slaters.
This is not a clumsy bouquet. Simply a shot of the garden. I put flowers in with the vegetables as you know. For the pollinators. These are ranuncula growing in beside the Silverbeet.
This is my favourite rose. The apricot when it begins its color cycle is quite gorgeous avd the scent is heady. You will be see it often this summer. This rise has thyme growing at its feet.
Today I will sow more beans and more sunflowers and more zuchinni and plant out some of the basil. Sow more of that too. I cannot have enough basil. Basil says summer to me.
Here is a photo that tells a story. out of focus and probably 60 odd years old.
That’s my Dad. In a beret. He drunk Greggs coffee. And all they drank in our house was instant coffee or pots of tea. Mum drank tea and Dad drank coffee and us kids drank milk or Tang. But never at meal times. Mum did not like us to drink at the same time as eating - I was never sure why. No one drank water - it just was not a thing. You certainly never bought water. The water was perfectly good but I can’t remember drinking a glass of it wry often like they did in America. We went through six pints of milk a day though.
I often think of who took a photo. I wonder who took this one. Dad was the photographer in our family so it is rare to see him.
Good morning. Have a gorgeous day!
This morning is baby swimming lessons. You would not believe the lessons babies go to nowadays! Sensory classes. Baby Pilates. Swimming. Such busy little creatures.
Who was the photographer in your family? The visual recorder of your life.
Print those photos. That is one thing we should not hesitate to do. Print them and write names on the back of the prints for future generations.
Love Celi
I need to get my flowers and garden back in shape. My mother doesn't raise a garden, but I don't think she has time with all the flowers growing around the house. She loves her roses and knows how to raise them. She will be 96 this year and still loves her flowers. She still lives in the house that we moved into when I was 6 months old. It is on a family farm that is about a quarter mile where she grew up.
This is such good advice! I am very much a starter of things, not at all put off by the fact that it won't be perfect or even necessarily good. But my two nearest and dearest are both very much put off by perfectionism. I will try to help them to make a small start over my previous approach of 'will you just bloody get on with it!'.