Protecting your hands is actually great advice, and if I'd been a faithful follower of Mom's wisdom, I probably would've spared my hands their share of blisters, stinging thorns, and spider bites over the years. As I planted a sidewalk border of blooming succulents this week, I remembered Mom's directive, because I didn't wear gloves, and sure enough, I ended up with a few nicks and cuts on my hands to remind me of her words. There's just one problem with gloves, though. It's one Mom never mentioned. The problem is gloves may protect you, but they don't let you get your hands on the good stuff.
Throughout Mr. Christoff's entire military career, he and I pledged we'd grasp with both hands all the things we sometimes had to skip due to frequent moves or his deployments. After all, it's hard to plant a garden when you arrive at your newly assigned digs in January. Since he retired from active duty, however, we've been keen to put down roots. And, for me, gardening is a key part of that.
The satisfaction of working the soil, laying fingertips on the sweet vibrancy of new leaves, and harboring the hope I'll be around to see my green, growing things through every season are reflections of building a life with the people I love in a new house, in a new town, in a new phase of my personal journey. Of course, a new phase, a new town, and a new house come with growing pains just as digging new flowerbeds comes with aches and strains.
Still, I don't always wear gloves when I garden. Why? I'd gladly pass on the thorns, but if I wore gloves, I'd also miss the velvet of the rose. I'm not sure the rest of life works like that, but I'm willing to take the chance.
"Gloves don't let you get your hands on the good stuff." I love that! It's funny how we can become so preoccupied with protecting ourselves that we forget to open ourselves up to all the excitement that life has to offer. Thanks for the reminder! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for swinging by with a comment, Misha! Yes, it's easy to avoid, avoid, avoid, isn't it? But then we miss the good stuff, too!
DeleteLove this, Nichole. You're right. And this is why I don't wear gloves either when I garden. I love to feel the earthiness of the dirt. There's something about it. And, yes, I do come away with bug bites, sometimes, but I'd take that over not experiencing anything any day of the week. Nice post! <3
ReplyDeleteGood to see you, Mackenzie! I'm trying to remind myself to take the gloves off in other aspects of life, too, because, as you say, living life to the fullest is about experiencing things!
DeleteI love gardening but haven't been able to do much of it over the past few years. Thanks for the reminder about how wonderful it is, even with the scrapes and thorns!
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