One of the greatest flaws in humankind is the inability to concede that there will be no resolution. That we might not bring all our plans to fruition. That we are not actually in charge. We know this intellectually. But we don’t want to know this. We prefer not to acknowledge that at any moment our nice comfy little world might be flung sideways. We might not get everything we want after all.
We just forge ahead in an effort to be better and modern and up to date, to obliterate all the old ways. To smash little countries to bits. To dominate our partners. To always be right just because. To destroy relationships that were perfectly fine in their awkwardness. To mow every blade of grass into submission.
We don’t know when our lives will end. We don’t know when Sod with stuff it all up. We don’t know what the climate will bring. We don’t know when the knowledge that comes from the old stories will be useful. We cannot control what our loved ones feel or where they go. Neither should we.
Better that we humans are infused with hope and kindness. I have always said that kindness is vastly underrated.
Hope is the last thing to die. Not hearing. Kindness never dies.
We plant our trees and welcome the babies. We hoe the garden and water the flowers. We make beds for our old dogs and build pretend lily pads in our frog ponds. We plan travel and plan calls and even design new websites because we have this wonderful incurable double edged sword of hope.
In this way the animals have it all over us. They are not driven by hope or deep thoughts. Unless they see better grass across the fence or see someone else getting more food. They are happy to just be.
They just stand in the shade when it is sunny. Go to the wallow when it is hot. Eat when they are hungry and drink when they are thirsty. Then hang about quietly and wait for night.
As the guardians of the animals and land and the wild places and all these little critters, not to mention our fellow man, and as a consumer, we have a big responsibility. And in the same breath I would rather not be in charge I would rather co-exist in a gentle way and leave the birds and trees stronger than when I came.
When we went to a cabin in the mountains or stayed at someone else’s bach at the beach, or on a friends farm my Pa would instruct us to leave the place better than we found it. He was talking about firewood and fences. But his lesson still stands.
His lessons were for my lifetime too.
Have a lovely day.
Celi
The new website
We are doing the fine tooth comb on the new website today. The new site thekitchensgarden.org will give you so much more ability to develop the fellowship in the Fellowship. To comment. To exchange stories and knowledge. To leave this place better than we found it. And to support each other in this endeavour.
I have been thinking about a workshop on visible repairs – darning and mending our clothing. That might be a fun one?
And of course – the almost daily supply of images and words from The Farmy and The Traveller will continue. I’ve got ya.
Take care
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
28 responses to “Learning that Spans a Lifetime”
I so agree with you
Thank you Beth! I hope your week is going well!
Such a peaceful, kind greeting from so far away, and yet so near. May kindness always follow you, c.
Afternoon (evening) Misky! Kindness is so important. I hope you are having a lovely week – I am using The Matriarchs office so I will pop over to your place while I have internet!
Always lovely to see you.
Life is a constant problem needing solving.
HAH! Yes it is. Though sometimes I get a bit tired of the endless problem solving. My internet problem is doing my head in!
Me too!
Enjoyed your words and thoughts so much today. I also loved the photos, especially the driveway with the cat looking off in the distance just being. We can all learn from our animals to just be, be a human being instead of a human doing!
I love that shot too. It is so peaceful yet full of – something – anticipation?
I think it would make a lovely painting! May I put it into my collection of photos that hopefully some day turn into paintings?
I would love that!!
Loveyour Dad’s dictum.
My Grandpa yes. he was the one that said Never go anywhere with one arm as long as the other. Full of useful nuggets he was.
These words are so beautiful, gentle and wise. I want everyone to see that we don’t always need more or better or bigger. I want appreciation for what we have been given and the understanding that we all owe our planet so much. I also know that this is a wish that not everyone has.
We are on the right track Deb. Working together is key! I can’t wait to get our workshops underway. !
Yes, kindness. It’s never wrong to be kind.
Absolutely – if we apply kindness to our equation we always come out with a good answer. Always. Thank you so much Dorothy!
You are very philosophical today. Deep thoughts, important thoughts.
Hey Liz. It comes from having no internet on the farm! Too much thinking!
The picture of the cat staring down the road says many things.
This was such a lovely post. I absolutely love that you are blogging again everyday. I look forward to seeing it pop into my inbox and can’t wait to check in!
I think this is why the Serenity Invocation remains popular and now has 16 recognised variations plus many unofficial… “Grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
So very true. I have finally realized that I cannot fix everything for everybody, only some things for some. The best I can do is help where I can and try to leave this earth having done as little damage as possible.
‘In a world where you can be Anything, be Kind’. I’m not sure Anything is within my grasp, but I can do Kind. I would like to participate in the visible mending/repairs effort, since I do a lot of it already. The polo neck sweater I have just packed to take to Melbourne has four darns in it. I’m sure the ladies of Toorak and Collins Street would gasp in horror, but it’s a 20 year old NZ Merino one, and a beloved old friend.
Your photographs and words just blow me away, no more to say🙏🏼💖
A wonderful, heartfelt post! Yes, it is all about loving kindness and compassion! Thank you for this!
And thank you Di!!!