Great news! In addition to the food stash we keep in the pantry, we have a bounty of fresh, nutritious food available to us just a few steps away; our survival during a crisis may depend largely on the time of year but it is as close as the backyard—I’m looking at you, dandelion—because instead of being overwhelmed by the tenacious weeds that fill every nook and cranny of our property, I choose to see them as an emergency food source.
And by focusing on the brighter side of things, I can persevere through the days when I’d rather throw in the towel.
From the time he was little, my son was a high energy, non-stop, talkative child who needed constant supervision and an attentive audience. The only break I had was when he slept—or recharged. When he was two, we joined a community play group where, after conquering every climbing structure, he would spend the remaining time running in circles around the perimeter of the gym, impressing the other parents who had their own energetic toddlers. Story time at the library was close to torture for him as he’d rather dig in to the craft materials ready for when the quiet listeners finished the book. And, although I’m sure chairs were available when we visited other people’s houses, I don’t remember ever using one.
Thankfully, while he was still young, my outlook about his spirited behaviour was transformed when I watched an interview with The Crocodile Hunter’s mom. She talked about how her son, Steve Irwin, was the same animated and vivacious person as a boy. A light bulb went off in my head as I realized that without an over-the-top enthusiasm for life, we wouldn’t have had this captivating man to entertain and educate us. I should be so fortunate to have an amazing kid like that, with all the potential in the world.
It was much easier to raise his older sister, a child who would actually stay on the porch if you asked her not to wander. That is, until three years ago when aliens replaced her with an evil twin. She was more co-operative and level-headed as a toddler than she is as a teenager, and even though she’s an excellent student and role-model, she’s not easy to live with. What I see in her though is a person who thinks for herself and is willing to speak up and not let herself settle; however, these traits are currently emanating as stubbornness and impatience. I need to squeeze out every bright and cheerful thought I can about our daily encounters and try to look upon her determined independence as a good thing but it’s bittersweet.
My inherent gratefulness goes a long way to being able to see the bigger, brighter picture, along with having a short memory and a little luck. I was born in the right country, I married the right guy, I discovered new information at the most opportune time, I noticed a perspective I hadn’t seen before or I just remembered something interesting that I already knew but had forgotten and it makes me smile. Life is not always a bed of roses but it’s not always a bed of nails, either. There are enough good moments to outweigh the bad, far more good people around than bad, and more love, laughter, and learning than I can fit in a day.
Yes, in every life, a little rain must fall, but judging by the size of the weeds after a good thunderstorm, I’m one lucky girl.
