Perspective, Mulch & Cauliflower

Life is full of twists. One day you are all gung-ho about something which usually for me, is something silly. Then other days you find some perspective and realize whatever it was you were "gung-ho" about wasn't that important after all.

Today was one of those days for me.

Lately, I have been probably, slightly, ummm, ok... I've been flat-out obsessing about my backyard. Gotta mulch here. Gotta buy more flowers there.

Grass seed.

Stone paths.

Edging.

Trimming.

Weeding.

And why? I don't know why. Maybe I worry what my neighbors think. Maybe I'm just tired of seeing weeds everywhere. Regardless, I've been obsessing.

From left to right: Me, Betsy and my other great friend, Stacy

Today I got to see a friend of mine, Betsy, who has been living in Haiti since before Christmas. They are in the process of adopting two more children from there. I had the pleasure of sitting for about 3 hours just hearing what her life has been for the past 6 months in a third-world country. She had video of the room {not house} her family of 6 lives in within the orphanage. Their bathroom with the bucket they fill to wash with. Their kid's bunk beds that literally were a foot away from where she and her hubby sleep.

And here I obsess about my backyard???

She told other stories too that made me realize just how spoiled I am.

If I am stressing about what flowers look just right in my side yard flowerbeds then I am spoiled.

If I stress that my deck is too small then I am spoiled.

If I am stressing because I don't have the right outdoor pillows for my patio chairs then I am definitely spoiled.

Perspective -- although not always what we're asking for -- is sometimes what we really need.

We need it... I need it to me help see and rinse out like a colander what is really important in this life. The material things... our homes... our furniture... our iPhones... our backyards even... will someday be gone.

Perspective is good.

And to think when I first sat down to write this post, my mind was obsessing over how I was going to tell you all the reasons why we should be eating cauliflower.

Perspective.