This is a partial repeat of the 2008 post Can We Really Learn to Love the Weeds? I came across it today while cleaning up a big mess caused by a hacker to my hosting site. It seems very appropriate!
Becoming mature means learning to accept what you cannot change, facing unresolved sorrows and learning to love life as it really happens, not as you would have it happen.
—Barbara Sher
There’s an old Sufi story about accepting imperfection:
Mulla Nasrudin decided to start a flower garden. He prepared the soil and planted the seeds of many beautiful flowers. But when they came up, his garden was filled not just with his chosen flowers but also overrun by dandelions.
He sought out advice from gardeners all over and tried every method known to get rid of them but to no avail. Finally he walked all the way to the capital to speak to the royal gardener at the sheik’s palace.
The wise old man had counseled many gardeners before and suggested a variety of remedies to expel the dandelions but Mulla had tried them all. They sat together in silence for some time and finally the gardener looked at Nasrudin and said, “Well, then I suggest you learn to love them.”
That sounds like a good idea to me — and so far I’m managing to stay cheerful. I spent most of the day correcting old posts, but I have several more days to go. I will let you know how it turns out!
December 7, 2018
how did you know I was looking at the weeds – growing at a rapid pace outdoors, dandelions and some other weeds that do heads…and thinking that this week is not lawn care week, but that the blasted property manager is coming! And whenever they see even a tiny bit of growth – they get agitated about the “grass” – errrrrrrrr what grass, this is a weed patch that is kind of joined up!
Even though I still have my el.mower – I know deep down that I can’t rectify anything…particularly since my ankles are playing up!
That’s a pain that they come by inspecting, unless they fix things promptly. Even then…. We’re lucky our managements have never done that. Good luck!
Who decides what is a weed? Have they never heard of dandelion wine or of putting dandelion greens in a salad? How is that a weed?
Catherine,
When my ankles were sore it turned out to be I needed better arch supports. As soon as I got the supports my ankles stopped hurting. That may not be what is happening with you but I thought I’d tell you just in case.
property inspection by management company is common…this time has been different, no email in advance, rather letter by post and I’m not sure why – but the recent property manager hasn’t sent it! Hope he hasn’t gone, he only took over as #4 in August! The letter that comes has a whole series of questions…mainly about “?repairs” – can’t think of anything that pertains to me/living…
regarding ankles…ankles have been part of my life since birth…now I was looking rather hard to newer “boots” yesterday. I always wore, up until last purchase, a model of Brooks – but last time, that model had disappeared and the other Brooks “black” model I didn’t care for…
So I changed brands. So looking at new boots, less than 6 months old and feel that the back bit is higher – ?causing me issues… and also I’ve got into less ambling when out…?I didn’t rest/stretch enough on return home.
So I’ve been “stretching” a lot since then…now some “muscles ” are aching (not feet)! You just can’t win…some days 🙂
I think I need to learn to love my dandelions as well. However many I uproot, however much weedkiller I spray, they all come back again sooner or later. And actually they’re quite pretty, it’s a bit silly writing them off as weeds.
I’m pretty sure dandelions are better for the environment than lawns are, and they’re a lot less work. 🙂
There is a lot of beauty in those weeds, and we both know that there are some good things that can come from them. 🙂
Sorry about the hacker that has “weeded up” your site!!!
I’m mainly grateful the hacker didn’t destroy anything on my main blog. They did destroy data on a test website in a subdomain, and they even changed my login name there. I must say, that makes me nervous. The work I’m doing now is to make my main site more secure. Fingers crossed, but at least it has nothing to do with health.
I recall blowing the dandelion seeds about and making a wish.
I like dandelions!
I have always loved dandelions! starting with their Name!
they’re so bright and cheerful. and I have never liked roses. the thorns overpower the beauty to me! so beauty is in the eye of the beholder for sure.
Yes! We love any wildflower that will grow up on the land, of course. 😀