Last Spring, I Learned I Couldn’t Do it All.

We all struggle with feeling like we should be able to do it all - or feel frustrated when we can’t. We might call it FOMO or trying to be superhuman; but either way, just labeling it doesn’t help to conquer it.

This spring, I learned a wonderful way to cope with this.

For the past few years, we have had a beautiful field of flowers. We met many wonderful community members who came for U-Pick & to immerse themselves in the garden. We also brought beautiful bouquets to the market - I look at the photos and vividly remember the fulfillment I got from it all.

And then this happened…

For various reasons, we had downsized the farm to just our family and I had returned to the produce side of things. Early spring arrived and I began seeding tray after tray of flowers. With each tray, my motivation & joy diminished as I tried to visualize how I was going to get it all done. My mind listed the summer duties: weeding, pruning, watering, cutting, and making bouquets.

As the doubts about my ability mounted, I questioned whether I could give up these summer beauties. Vegetables are delicious, but they don’t Instagram as well! Eventually, after a lot of tears, I faced my two options: give something up or burn out.

So, I did it. I went to Freddie and said:

“I am complete with flowers right now.”

After getting over the shock, we brainstormed with clear minds. The garden became beds of root vegetables that the boys happily took over, freeing me to be creative in other ways.

Making my decision out of a mindset of success (I am complete with this) rather than a belief of defeat (I am giving up) allows me to think back about the lovely summer gardens and feel only joy & peace from those memories - not one sting of guilt or regret.