Compost Happens

Sometimes, bad things happen.  Injuries.  Losses.  Injustices.  Setbacks. We can't avoid them.  We can't prevent them.  What matters is what we do with them.

Of course there will be an initial reaction.  Anger.  Grief.  Frustration. Sadness.

The most important thing is to not become paralyzed, wallowing in these negative feelings.  To move on, after an appropriate time.

There may be some cognitive analysis about what's happened.  Some lessons learned.  Some decisions about the future. Again, the trick is not to wallow.  Not to stay trapped by repetitive thoughts.

The best way to move on is to take action.  To move forward.  To take steps to improve the situation.

Like my gardener friend Julia advises, "Compost happens."

We both lost our mothers this year.  And we've both been stunned and blindsided at some of the actions taken by our family members -- at a time when we would have preferred their support.  We've both been disheartened and dismayed when relatives have hurt us.  But all we can do is walk away with our lumps and move on -- with gratitude for the love and support that, thankfully, we get from others.  Some people may have behaved nastily to us...but many more people have been kind during this sad, difficult process.


What about you?  Are you holding on to some 'compost' unnecessarily?  What can you do to let go and move on?