The Beauty of the Little Basil Plant

To fully understand this post, you must know that I am a recovering "big-achiever." I am driven by grand ideas, and I get a wonderful high when I have accomplished them.  Then onto the next.  A means-to-an-end kind of girl--push, rush, pull with everything you've got--and most of the time it gets me somewhere.

I consider myself to be "recovering" because I have had glimpses of the alternative, and I like it.  Such as my basil plant.  You see, we bought our house and by far the best feature about it was the backyard--big and spacious, with endless possibilities.  I look at it and my mind starts whirling with ideas, ways to completely transform that space into something magical that everyone can enjoy.  Whenever I look at it I want to just DIVE IN.  To get 'er done and bask in my lawn chair soaking up my success.  But then there is a part of me that knows that when I say "yes" to this huge project, I am saying "no" to the stress-free family days we made time for on Saturdays.  And that this isn't really the rest that I so desperately need in the midst of practicum, school, and raising a family.

So instead I planted a basil plant, in a stunning turquoise pot, right on the edge of the patio. That little plant brought wonderful smells and its own vibrant green magic into our yard. Skyler, Aurora and I took turns watering it every few days, and trimming the leaves every so often to make delicious pesto.  The beauty of the little basil plant was that I got a yummy taste of my grandiose dreams of gardening and a life-giving backyard, without the consequences of over-commitment and unrealistic expectations.

Someday I will have an amazing backyard that will be the home of many parties, celebrations, and lazy weekend mornings.  But for now, during this time of replacing all our plumbing and transitioning to two working parents, we will happily tend to our little basil plant. 

On this New Year's Eve, I encourage you to look at your 2014 resolutions and pare them down a bit.  Not to give up on your dreams, but to make them more accessible.  What small, fits-well-into-your-life change can bring a sense of accomplishment to you this year?