CARE

The heat and humidity of a southern summer wrap around my shoulders. I am going slower and more lazy like in my garden. I am pausing to see what needs care. A lot does apparently.  

We are all looking for more Care. Care for ourselves, and care for others.  We want to be cared for and we want the people we love to feel cared for. There are so many little ways to feel more connected to ourselves and to the ones we care for. I have a few favorites that mostly involve what you would find anywhere and they are free. Mostly found in my garden. 

Being in Nature is a wonderful way to open the channels of communication between the Self and the world around us. I listen to birdsong, and I feel calm.  Instead of pulling weeds, I walk slowly in the steamy morning with my coffee to see who needs care.  I water who is wilting, and hope for the best. I will come back tomorrow and see how you are doing. 

Summer invites me to care less. To leave behind my quest for some kind of perfection and allow the garden to be.  I’m encouraged to let go and feel into the things that make me feel good.  I want to figure out a way to have more of those things pop up in my life, like little surprises of joy. Like flowers do even in the heat of the summer.  I would love for your outdoor space to pop into your mind as a place of rest refuge and delight.  A place that isn’t perfect, but just like you is full of delight and worth your time to care for.  I wish that for you. 

In my business and I personal life, I desire to be a channel for clear, intelligent, creative communication and care. I express that through listening and reflecting on what matters to you most. For myself, I try to create pockets of quiet where I can listen and remind myself of the things that fill my cup.  I look for ways to create that space and time so that I arrive with a cup that is overflowing (life goals!) or at least isn’t half empty. 

Nature helps me care for myself by reminding me what needs care.  Right now in the fulsomeness of Summer, it’s really hot and I’m having to use a lot of extra care as I go out and about at work. I have to take time to hydrate. I have to take time out of the sun and take more time to rest so that I don’t get overheated. The seasons always remind us to take more care. And also, to care less about the things that don’t matter so much. Like being sweaty all the time. 

Summer is always a fun time to dive right into the water… feel the water on our bodies and delight in the sun. That’s another way to care for yourself and caring for others. We can make sure that beloved pets have enough water and cool places to rest.  We make sure our children have time to enjoy the lightning bugs and stay up late on these lazy summer evenings. 

Maybe we make time to care for our beloved and hold hands and enjoy the golden hour…that beautiful time when the sun starts to set and everything is backlit with a beautiful golden glow.  Wherever you find yourself, I hope you will find time to care for yourself and let Mother Nature remind you that you’re worth it.

Ps. This blog post was inspired by the marvelous Richmond-based artist Seth Bauserman and his Exhibit Care Less on display at the Quirk Gallery in Charlottesville, VA.  I loved it. 

Thank you Quirk Gallery for giving us art to help us on our way.