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Wednesday, March 4, 2009

My Organic Garden

"Oh what a night..." Ever since moving away from my family, my community, I have craved that sense of community again. Community comes a lot more easily when you are in your hometown and you are like "Norm", where everyone knows your name. I feel like I have had the best of both worlds because I had just that for years and years and although it was the scariest thing to move away from that, it was the best thing I could have done. The reward of going out and finding my own community has been the biggest blessing. In order to do so, I have to give my whole self. I have opened up to these people and showed them my open and closed wounds, my hopes and dreams, and my enthusiasm. I am able to tap into just about anyone in my community and go under the surface with them on many discussions. That left me with the desire to get them all together, for one amazing night of energy and introducing them to each other. I tried for a month to plan a purpose, a direction, or intention that the night would hold. The more I tried to plan, the more nothing came to me and all I was left with was the same simple desire to just be with them all at once. To be able to thank them and celebrate my new direction in life. So that is just what I did. I knew the energy would be amazing, and it was just that, and it BLEW me away. When everyone got to the house, it was normal, party surface talk. Everyone was getting to know each other from their titles or connections. I took each person upstairs to take a shot of them for a personal project and for memory's sake. When I came down and was ready to get things started, I said a little prayer that the words would come to me. The words that would be able to suffice the feelings I have for each of these individuals. I was going to be the submarine (with my newly diagnosed, dose of perspective) to take them all Beneath the Surface....
Oh, did we ever get there. I was balling, vulnerable, exposed and in love with every word that I felt in my heart. I went around the room and was able to look each person in the eyes and tell them what they meant to me and how they have helped give me the strength and courage to blaze my own trail. It was almost like a funeral, the raw emotions (not the sadness), only it was the celebration of life, our talents, our friendship and the desire to get out of mainstream. It is very hard for me to put into words, but it was spectacular, humbling, and overwhelming in the most beautiful way. I told them that since I wasn't much a gardener that they were all going to be my organic garden. I will continue to cultivate them and have them in my life to feed my heart, mind and soul and in return I will always give them my whole self and love. So for the 25 people that were here and the 100 others that I wish I could have had, I thank you. I thank you for sharing yourself. For inspiring me daily. And for having faith in me. You have all helped me become the hero of my own story. I hope that I was able to introduce some fresh ways of thinking and positive energy that everyone can bring into their own lives. I know that new connections were made amongst my friends that will be so valuable and rewarding and that is exactly what I want my healthy community to be. A source that we can all tap into to get strength, understanding and guidance. What I do best is share my enthusiasm, and I couldn't be more enthusiastic about my life, my future, my friends, my passion, and most of all, my family! Now that I got the gist of the night out, I will be able to write a couple posts with some highlights of the night...if the words come to me again:)

7 comments:

Shyla said...

I adore you in every sense of the word. This is the exact thing Ive been plowing through at this season in my life. But oh how things have changed.... I cannot wait to share :)

xoxo

Shannon Sewell said...

i sit here, like i did that night, holding back tears.. feeling them fall.. and then just giving in to the feelings. it fills me with so much peace to see you bringing all these things in your life together like this. near or far, busy or bored, up or down.. i'm always here. just know that ;)
~S

Aaron Galeotti Photography said...

I totally feel ya on the funeral thing! i think thats what life should be like all the time.. openness vulnerability and genuine gratitude for one another. so blessed to be included in your community :) lets cultivate some more :)

Cindy Cieluch Photography said...

What a blessing that you had and will always have this night. Like you mentioned to me on the phone, it IS weird/sad that the only times we usually have all of our loved one is at our wedding and funeral. Why can't we have them together more often??!!?! What a brave step to reach out to your community/home away from home/organic garden...and then tell them all exactly how important they are to you. You are so important to us, Kathy! And you ALWAYS know how to make me slow down and remember who I should be reaching out to.

Erin said...

I feel so lucky to have been a part of this night. It was such an amazing thing being there... feeling so important yet feeling so small in such a wonderful room full of people. I was thrilled to have been there and to be a part of this night. Thank you for making me look at things a little different.
As a side note... no high fructose corn syrup for me this week... not even a Gatorade. Oh... and I'm thrilled to see you got a good picture of me... that was not my finest photography moment. Loves, E

Erin said...

I feel so lucky to have been a part of this night. It was such an amazing thing being there... feeling so important yet feeling so small in such a wonderful room full of people. I was thrilled to have been there and to be a part of this night. Thank you for making me look at things a little different.
As a side note... no high fructose corn syrup for me this week... not even a Gatorade. Oh... and I'm thrilled to see you got a good picture of me... that was not my finest photography moment. Loves, E

Erin said...

I feel so lucky to have been a part of this night. It was such an amazing thing being there... feeling so important yet feeling so small in such a wonderful room full of people. I was thrilled to have been there and to be a part of this night. Thank you for making me look at things a little different.
As a side note... no high fructose corn syrup for me this week... not even a Gatorade. Oh... and I'm thrilled to see you got a good picture of me... that was not my finest photography moment. Loves, E