All in good time
Each year I add new flowers to my garden.
And each year, while my plants are small, I play the game Should I leave the blooms as they are or should I snip them and bring them inside to enjoy?
It’s always a tough call.
This was the first year my peonies had a substantial number of blooms, and they were glorious!
Peonies are lovely because they’re these delicate and intricate blossoms, ruffled and feminine. They’re what I feel roses always want to be and they sometimes come close.
And the scent - intoxicating!
These peonies - in white, pink, and red - are in one of my backyard gardens, visible from my bedroom window. I spend a lot of time looking out that window and these flowers have brought me so much joy.
I have another peony in the front of my house that brightens up the whole yard with its cheerful pink blooms.
For days, nearly two weeks even, I’ve been waffling.
They bring me so much joy outside. But I knew they’ll also bring me so much joy inside.
Mother Nature made the decision for me by deciding to send us some thunderstorms a few nights ago.
When I saw the sky getting dark, I knew it was time.
I slipped outside, and cut the most delicate blooms, the ones that I was sure wouldn’t survive hard rains.
And what a joy to grace my dining room table!
I don’t know that I would have enjoyed these flowers as much if I had cut them days earlier. There’s something about the magic in perfect timing that makes them even more special.
It’s a reminder to me to not rush through life, moving as fast as I can.
It’s a reminder to me to slow down, notice and appreciate what’s around me.
It’s a reminder to me to stop and smell the peonies. (I don’t grow roses - yet!)
It’s a reminder to me to wait for the right time, to trust that it will come.
It always does.
Use these prompts as written or as inspiration to uncover what you need in your life this week. And know that I’m always here to support you and answer questions you have along the way!
How patient are you?
When, or with whom, are you the most patient?
Where do you struggle with patience?
What relationship do you see between patience and enjoyment?
Write about a time when you had to be patient? What happened? How did it feel? What did you learn?
How can you be more patient with yourself?
One Journaling Idea I Love:
Social Journaling
Journaling by ourselves is critically important. But have you tried journaling with others? Social journaling, or group journaling, is just what you think it is: Journaling with other people.
But it’s more than just journaling with other people.
In social journaling, we come with a shared sense of purpose, each of us on our own journey, but traveling together. We generally start out with the same prompt and write for as long as the timer runs.
When the timer rings, we come back together and have an opportunity to share what came up for us. While no one is required to share, and no one is ever expected to read what they wrote, this is truly where the magic happens. As we share, we deepen our understanding, we help each other make connections, we discover that we’re not alone. It’s hard to describe if you’ve never experienced it.
But if you’d like to, join us for a Journaling Mini-Retreat on Wednesday, June 21 at 7:30 pm Eastern. Experience the magic for yourself. Click HERE to register.
Looking for Some Accountability with Your Journaling?
Introducing the Journal-along Membership!
This is for folks who don’t necessarily need any help with their journaling, but want the accountability.
Join me to journal on Zoom Monday - Thursday mornings from 7:30 - 8:00 am Eastern.
This will be a silent working session and cameras off are totally fine. I’ll screen share a prompt each day for folks who wish to use it.
Stay for the whole 30 minutes or pop in for a long as makes sense for you.
Just $47 a month.
Sign up for your spot and to be held accountable HERE.
More Good Stuff
Good Things Come to Those Who Journal: The Livestream is back! Tune in on Tuesday at 8pm Eastern on LinkedIn, YouTube, or Facebook.
Did you see I have a new journaling guide? Get your free copy of Five Questions to Create A Journaling Practice You Love HERE.
Happy Journaling!
