Learn to Love Them

Read on for this short fable about releasing perfectionism. If you can’t change something, learn to love it!

If you can’t remove them, learn to love them.

Once a man tried gardening.
He planted all sorts of seeds in his garden and waited for the beautiful flowers to spring up and bloom.

A few did come up.

But alas, the garden was mostly filled with unsightly weeds.

They grew more quickly than the flowers.

And they too budded, bloomed, and distributed wafts of seed.

In desperation the man made his way to the palace to consult with the palace gardener.

This man was known for his skill with plants.

“I have tried everything,” complained the man.

“I pull them out.
l hoe them out.
I plant more flower seeds.
And what do l end up with?
Weeds! Weeds! Weeds!”

The gardener considered all this for a while.

Then he offered his wise advice:

“I think the best thing for you to do …
is learn to love the weeds.”

Source | Margaret Read MacDonald, Earth Care: World Folktales to Talk About

Releasing Perfectionism

One way to find happiness is to begin loving things that you can’t change.

What most call a weed can also be seen as a blessing. My children have spent many a joyful moment playfully blowing dandelions into the breeze, and would rejoice in a field of weeds to play with.

How can you love something you can’t change?

Can you love your body’s transformations with the passage of time?

Can you cover your thoughts with love?

Can you show others kindness and love?

Why not draw a picture of how you feel when you love something instead of trying to change it.

Love and Light,

Sarah