Sometimes the world seems a terrible place. Most of the time I do not watch, read, or listen to the news because it only seems to find the evil on this planet of ours. It makes me feel hopeless and sad, helpless and angry. It distorts how I see the world and instead of goodness, hope, and beauty, all I can see are the crazies, the tyrants, the brutal murderers.

The news gutted me this week, as I know it did most of us. A pregnant friend of mine was scheduled to be on the Malaysian Airlines flight with her two children but got bumped because the flight was full. Afterwards she could hardly breathe, overwhelmed with grief and shock. The horrors unfolding in Israel, Ukraine, and other places are devastating, and I ache for the people caught in these untenable situations. I’m scared about the lines being drawn where entire groups of people are lumped in with the decisions and actions of a few. I see the refugee situation in Australia, America, and other places, and my heart is breaking for the people, just regular people, who are imprisoned like criminals when all they want is a safe place to raise their families.

And I know there aren’t easy answers for any of it. Each big issue is filled with tiny issues, personal relationships and histories and needs and fears and prejudices and misinformation and conflicting values and beliefs that make it all one giant muddle.

It feels Too Much.

So I have to stop. And breathe. And go outside and wander in my gardens and get some perspective.

I walked out to my greenhouse and was amazed to find it nearly full of tumbleweeds blown in with the last winter wind storm.

oranges and tumbleweedIt’s a big ol’ mess that will have to be cleaned out, but I can still see beauty and growth through the drifts. It calmed me and reminded me that even though the world seems full of cruelty right now, there is still beauty and growth to be found, uncovered, nourished. I’m not rich or powerful, I have no influence on world events, but I can look for places of growth and help them thrive.

hollyhocks and fennelI can start with myself, doing everything I can to foster kindness, generosity, and tolerance in my heart, and live that out with the people I see and interact with: my husband, friends, random people I run into in daily life.

As I heal and get stronger, I can find ways to help the refugees that are in my area, collecting food, clothing, household items, whatever they need.

As I earn money and get a bit extra, I can give it to those who do have influence and opportunity to help those in need.

And I can focus on the good in this world, cheering for the millions of people every day who are not murdering or bombing or harming anyone. Supporting every effort to heal, restore, empower, and inspire.

kale cabbage calendula and celeriacI can also make my own little spot on the planet a place of rest, healing, peace, and welcome where differences are respected, creativity is celebrated, and love is given lavishly.

lemon blossomsToday I’m celebrating good little things in my life:

  1. I don’t have cancer. I DON’T HAVE CANCER!!! Yesterday I got my test results back from my operations and they now know exactly what is wrong and how to fix it. Cancer has been the big fear and the relief we felt yesterday cannot be expressed. We are overjoyed. My diagnosis will mean some lifestyle changes for the rest of my life, but they’re manageable and good and I’m full of hope and excitement.
  2. I’ve been commissioned to write a Christmas book!!! Once my history book is completed I’ll be cooking, writing, and photographing my heart out to finish it in time for release over the holidays. My office is filling up with Christmasy inspiration and it makes me happy just thinking about it.
  3. 15 baby goats leaping about. They make me laugh every day as they gallop around like marionettes being jerked on strings. I love their little faces as they reach up to sniff my hand then run away as fast as they can because I’m big and scary. And it’s pure bliss when they snuggle into my arms and fall fast asleep.

What are some good things in your life this week? XO