Picking up trash

Tango · #1 01/14/14, 06:17 AM

I share this with ht'ers looking around this New Year wondering what it will be like.
Not too long ago, I was picking up trash when I reflected on the trash in my thought stream at the time. I looked up and nearly bumped my head into a perfect little bird's nest in a shrub laid bare by winter. I remembered when I first saw this property, I went to move a deteriorating roll of carpet and disturbed a salamander and her clutch of eggs. How fortunate for us that Nature doesn't keep a stream of trash in Her thought stream. Given half a chance, Nature will recycle and reuse.
I reflected on Christ and on the Buddha and how they didn't have the category of trash, we have grown accustomed to filing unwanted experiences into. Or blaming our unwanted experiences on. Their Teaching was open to men and women, rich and poor, healthy and diseased, young or old, educated or uneducated, refined or vulgar, saints and sinners alike. Their own light, lit up their surroundings. I imagine in Their presence, most everyone aspired to their highest ideal. I would have.
So there I was picking up trash which reflected the state of mind I was in at the time. Restraining my thoughts to consider the blessings in my life, which are numerous and for which I am grateful, at that moment it stopped being trash.
2013 was a hard year in many ways and I vowed 2014 would be my favorite year. Almost simultaneously I stumbled onto a post about forest gardens here on ht in the gardening forum. It all clicked in a flash. More than one unravelled thread, came back into line in a long current of events that seemed out of control - that were flailing wildly around me as if I were some sort of victim. We can't live life as a victim; no matter what our tragedy.
Amazing what one can find in a heap of rubble.

ronbre · #2 01/14/14, 12:45 PM

i love finding wildlife like that. I heat with firewood, so I have a lot of bark that we put around our garden each year. One year I had to move some to dig up some plants that were overrun with some weeds, and I found the prettiest blue salamander or newt lying in the bark, it was an amazing bright blue color, almost shocking..love those things.

okiemom · #3 01/14/14, 01:02 PM

What a lovely way to put a spin on life. we should always try and find the good in life. sadly, it is easier not to. Thank you

Bret · #4 01/14/14, 01:04 PM

Fun. Good work. Being grateful changes lots of stuff doesn't it? There is a state road that runs through the ranch. In the spring, before the grass and roadsides get too tall, I "get to" pick up trash on both sides of the road. It's a stretch and I have to do it a little at a time. I fill bags and bags. Each time I bend over to pick up something, I try to think of good stuff, think of things I ever threw out as a boy, think of things I did, things I got away with. I didn't know how bad I was.

Waterwheel Farm · #5 01/14/14, 04:12 PM

I admire your for your gumption. My previous place was a mess with a trail of renters that had no respect at all for anything. Any gully there was a dumping place. It was 40 acres with a year round creek thru it, but there was so much trash it must have looked overwhelming to most. In the end, I got rid up the dumpy trailer, cleaned up the place and it turned out beautiful. I could finally sit on my porch in the evenings grilling out, having a beer, and watching the cows out of the meadows. I bought it for $35,000 and sold it 9 years later for $165,000. A little elbow grease can pay off sometimes. Best wishes to you.

Tango · #6 01/14/14, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterwheel Farm

My previous place was a mess with a trail of renters that had no respect at all for anything. Any gully there was a dumping place.

I think they moved here when they left there

. seriously, i'm pretty satisfied with the law "what goes around comes around". i needed this lesson and i accept it. it has provided the insight for its own solution

not too bad on your part for a little elbow grease. for my part, i'm just walking around right now thinking "hmmm, not too bad."

Rustaholic · #7 01/14/14, 06:33 PM

Tango, It is so wonderful to read your first post here.
At peace with the land.

am1too · #8 01/15/14, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tango

I share this with ht'ers looking around this New Year wondering what it will be like.
Not too long ago, I was picking up trash when I reflected on the trash in my thought stream at the time. I looked up and nearly bumped my head into a perfect little bird's nest in a shrub laid bare by winter. I remembered when I first saw this property, I went to move a deteriorating roll of carpet and disturbed a salamander and her clutch of eggs. How fortunate for us that Nature doesn't keep a stream of trash in Her thought stream. Given half a chance, Nature will recycle and reuse.
I reflected on Christ and on the Buddha and how they didn't have the category of trash, we have grown accustomed to filing unwanted experiences into. Or blaming our unwanted experiences on. Their Teaching was open to men and women, rich and poor, healthy and diseased, young or old, educated or uneducated, refined or vulgar, saints and sinners alike. Their own light, lit up their surroundings. I imagine in Their presence, most everyone aspired to their highest ideal. I would have.
So there I was picking up trash which reflected the state of mind I was in at the time. Restraining my thoughts to consider the blessings in my life, which are numerous and for which I am grateful, at that moment it stopped being trash.
2013 was a hard year in many ways and I vowed 2014 would be my favorite year. Almost simultaneously I stumbled onto a post about forest gardens here on ht in the gardening forum. It all clicked in a flash. More than one unravelled thread, came back into line in a long current of events that seemed out of control - that were flailing wildly around me as if I were some sort of victim. We can't live life as a victim; no matter what our tragedy.
Amazing what one can find in a heap of rubble.

I count such time as one of the best benefits of being single. Sometimes I think I give to much time to such things.

Tango · #9 01/25/14, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by am1too

I count such time as one of the best benefits of being single. Sometimes I think I give to much time to such things.

being single has many advantages and some serious drawbacks too. like so many things. i've raised my children and now looks like i need to raise myself.