WEEDS! Weeds everywhere!

I wage constant battles against the weeds – at work, at home, and in my writing too.

Most of us live our lives in and out of the weeds. Things proceed smoothly for a time, but then “something” happens and we find ourselves reaching for the weed-whacker, hoping we can keep up with the overgrowth that popped up when we weren’t looking.

Unfortunately, when the weeds get high our carefully-cultivated priorities become more difficult to see. They lurk beneath the thistles, choked by strangler vines and smothered in dandelion puffs. If we’re not careful, we pull them up or cut them down with the weeds.

Writing is like that. Friendships are too.

When work becomes overwhelming and stress takes over, it’s easy to put off the things that make us happy. In some ways, they feel like luxuries – the dessert we cannot eat before the peas. We forget that friends and family (and writing time) are not just things that grow between the pavement cracks – they’re the centerpieces of our lives.

At least, they should be.

So the next time the weeds get high and you raise that scythe, don’t fling it about with abandon. Remember what lies beneath the weeds. Cut around the things that really matter, and take the time to appreciate them – even before the weeds are completely gone. It takes effort to pause in the middle of the weeds and be grateful, but the reward is worth it. Take a moment to appreciate an overlooked blessing today. You’ll be glad you did.