Years ago I admired a Christmas Cactus in full bloom. It was in a beautiful china pot seated atop a piano. It was lovely and I envisioned having just such a specimen in my home someday. Well, I can tell you I’ve failed miserably at maintaining the delicate balance needed to nurture these beauties. Ive tried different pots, different soil mixtures, different rooms and lighting, and still they each came to a wilted, droopy, demise or dried up & withered away. It wasn’t until this year that I was finally successful in keeping my cacti alive. The secret ingredient wasn’t a secret at all … a persistent damp soil environment rots the roots. They Christmas Cactus needed a complete drying out between watering, along with an east window for adequate sun exposure. To my delight these small changes gave my latest attempt the boost it needed to grow. I actually have a blooming Christmas Cactus!
A healthy climate is crucial, and yet, we’ve all found ourselves staying in an unhealthy or unsatisfying environment far longer than we’d have ever anticipated. It may be a seriously harmful relationship of domestic abuse, or simply employed in a position in which we dread going to work everyday. In either case, why is it so difficult to find the strength to move on? We fantasize and plan, we perseverate over what we should do, and yet we stay gambling with our lives, our peace of mind & sanity, and our dreams.
It’s ironic that in life, crisis situations that can initially seem disastrous can become our biggest blessings. Those changes that we are forced to make in crisis can propel us to grow, or land us in better circumstances. When we are in a daily cascade of negativity, abuse, or chaos, we are simply unable to navigate clearly. We stay feeling trapped until a crisis forces change, but is crisis our only option for change? Could small changes and breaks from unhealthy surroundings make a difference? A week away from that toxic relationship or that position that doesn’t serve our authentic selves could be key. A week at a domestic violence shelter or safe house, or anywhere where we have a brief spell of time to step away for a change of environment, & feel a little lighter and think more clearly. Taking action to make a final change may feel overwhelming, but deciding to just get away for a rest, and experience how that feels, to ask those needed questions or listen to the advice of others & explore new options, may be a first step. Getting a taste of freedom, of choices, and support, you begin to feel the clarifying energy of being in a healthier place and finding the strength to move on. It could be the glimmer of hope you need to take the next step to bring you to a better place, a place where you can grow and thrive.
For anonymous, confidential help, 24/7, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233(SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).
Seeds of Hope 