Now that I am engrossed in horticulture. I recognize that Autumn often represents the harvest, bounty, (prayerfully abundance). Harvest is when plants reach maturity. And in this season of harvest (maturity), I am leaning into my growing. Knowing that as the plants, I will continue on my growth journey until death. That said, currently, I'm focused on my words.
"Words are things, I'm convinced. You must be careful about the words you use or the words you allow to be used in your home. I think they get on the walls, they get in your wallpaper, they get in your rugs and your upholstery and your clothes, and finally into you."
Quick Update:
I am finished with my no phone September and here are a few take-aways:
Headliner: It felt good - I'm keeping it.
No more having my phone on my body. I try to remove my phone (at work, at home, or in the car) from my body - making myself only accessible to those physically around me.
I didn't get a ton of computer time, which meant a lot of unanswered emails and questions & not a lot of design work, etc. I realize how much I actually do on my phone vs my computer - although I derive so much more enjoyment from the computer.
Not hearing others' voices, opinions, and thoughts doesn't create silence. I also must be quiet/silent.
Filling Space with Words.
Ashley, from Gather (so many important Ashleys in my life lol), does a lot of liberation work with others. She is incredibly brilliant and also does a ton of research, reading, and seeking. That said, we often talk about words & language and how words are put out into the universe, unable to be taken back. We must be careful about what we say.
"When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent." - Proverbs 10:19
AND so here lately, I've been thinking a lot about how many useless words that I use. How reactive I am - I typically have an immediate reply. I often over-explain, repeat myself and try to answer all questions. I am sure that it all stems from three places:
Acceptance - approachable and friendly ( not wanting to be rejected)
Appearance - looking knowledgeable or at least not seeming "ignorant, or unknowing."
Teaching - I want the listening party to understand/get the point.
But all in all, it's people-pleasing and fear-based.
But as my mom would repeat to me throughout my childhood:
"But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.'" (Matthew 5:37)
And so, currently, I am practicing minimizing and essentializing my words. What needs to be said? What are my "too many words" triggers? What thoughts trigger me to say the things that I don't need or shouldn't let slip out of my mouth? What am I putting into the world? And why?