Friday 13 May 2016

Productivity...& the grape vine!



Do you ever get to the end of the week and wonder what you accomplished? 
Me too!  I often feel like what I've done is just not enough and I end the week with a list of things left undone. The tendency in such circumstances is to focus on what is still left to do, and not give yourself any credit or a pat on the back, for what you actually HAVE accomplished. 

These last few weeks It feels like I've not achieved very much... at times like this I have to give myself a talking to and remind myself of some of the things that I DID do and congratulate myself for at least still trying! When I focus on this, I have to concede that even though my progress is not as I would like it to be.... it is still progress!!

During these last few weeks I have enjoyed having some sunshine to be outside and do garden jobs. I have noticed within the last few days that my grape vine (the one I thought I had killed last year by pruning too hard) was starting to show signs of life again... 
I have been watching and waiting for a few months, hoping and praying that it would spring back to life.  Beneath the gnarly bark,  growth has slowly but surely been occurring ... progress that until now, has been largely happening out of sight.  
The other day I noticed  buds emerging and now the little lime green leaves are  appearing  and unfolding,  growing bigger day by day.  







Soon it will once again fill the arbour, provide shade, and hopefully produce grapes.  It is a reminder to me that there are times and seasons  for everything ... times of growth, activity, progress and productivity.... and times of dormancy and unseen development.  When we feel like we are not being productive, it is a signal to watch, wait, carry on working, be patient..... and become aware of the often hidden growth we are making. 


So I have been taking note today of the things that I have done.... small as they may seem.... 

We started a project on an untidy piece of the garden (hubby did most of the labouring and I did some digging, weeding and planting ...it's still not totally finished but it's getting there......hopefully I'll show you the finished project in an upcoming post. 





I have spent time on researching summer holidays... a time intensive task that eats away the hours and feels like you are just sitting surfing the net...BUT I have booked a week away with Heni in Dorset and organized oxygen delivery and carers availability....there are still a heap of tasks still left to do for it ... but there is progress.
We have booked flights for a weeks respite trip to Norway for me, hubby and the youngest two.....no accommodation yet... but again...it's progress...... exciting stuff to look forward to.
  
I've also done some health studying and research..... yet another time consuming task with not much to show as evidence.
I've spent time on friends birthday gifts and celebrations, caught up with some friends on some lovely walks.... things that you can't tangibly measure.... but it's all progress...



I've spent time on planning a project for Heni's upcoming birthday...it's at that unseen stage beneath the gnarly bark that you can't quite see yet... but I will hopefully share it with you once it comes in to full bloom... lets just say it involves this space in the garden below...I'll show you a transformation picture in the next few months.....





 I've spent time with family.... I've have helped daughter number two get ready for her upcoming prom (tonight!), taken her to college open evenings, watched the hungry boy do Athletics matches and been on a picnic...All tasks that may take years to fully see the harvest from.



  

...and....I  have done countless other little tasks that I have nothing to show for having done them. 
 None of my accomplishments are even at the unfurled leaf stage yet and I have a while to wait for the grapes to appear...




but.... I am moving forwards, slowly but surely. I'm looking forward to the time when the small and simple things that I've been doing, build and I can then enjoy some of the fruits of the sometimes in-perceptible slow and steady effort.




As you  come to the end of your week, I would encourage you to look back at all the things that you HAVE achieved and congratulate yourself for those tasks, no matter how small and often mundane they may appear... the ones that you take for granted.... the ones that appear to get you no where... the ones that are not fully finished.... 
As you do I would also encourage you to be patient with yourself, acknowledge your efforts... realize that you are still making progress (even if you can't feel or see it) and look forward into the not too distant future, when you will hopefully see the fruits and abundance of all your labour.

Until next week....Have a great week everyone!

Jx

















24 comments:

  1. Lovely post and reminder Jade xx

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  2. Congratulate yourself today H ... Even for your small achievements. I'm grateful that you take the time to leave me such encouraging comments. Miss you guys X

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  3. Such a good reminder! It's so easy to look at the pile of things that need to be done and feel like there's no progress. I had a friend who kept not only to-do lists, but done lists... wrote everything down. I thought that was a pretty cool habit. :)

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    1. That is very cool. I believe there is a book about lists that famous people make. It would be interesting to see what's on their list. I tend to throw mine away. Maybe I should save them instead!

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  4. Our grape vines are popping out now too. So exciting! Until the grapes rot on the vine or the birds eat them off. Sigh. We've not had good luck bringing the fruit to table in a few years. Hopefully your produce will be better.

    Love this truth: "Even though my progress is not as I would like it to be.... it is still progress!!" Amen.

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  5. Hi Lisa. I hope you do get some grapes this year from your vine. We had a heap last year that we put in bags in the freezer and used them in smoothies. Still got some left! But we are slowly but surely making progress through them! X

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  6. Thank you for sharing such an edifying post!

    It sounds to me like you have been very busy accomplishing much to invest in your family, the best kind of busyness there is!

    Your encouragement to look at all pieces of what we do in a day as progress, comparing it to the dormant and now erupting grape vine was a perfect analogy.

    I leave your blog feeling blessed. :-)

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    1. I am so glad you visited today and thank you so much for your kind comments. X

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  7. Your post spoke to me; I needed to hear it because I have been feeling as if I wasn't accomplishing anything as well. Thank you for sharing it!

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  8. I am so pleased that you found something in the words I typed to help you today. It makes blogging so worth it. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know.

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  9. There is joy in seeing plants come to life. Like you, I enjoy being outside and tending the garden.You are right--there are seasons in life and times of unseen growth! Part of the unseen is the time we spend investing in our children. Blessings!

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    1. Thank you for visiting today carol. I hope you get to enjoy your garden soon. X

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  10. Thank you for this reminder today, Jade. Something I very much needed to hear. A trip to Norway - how grand! Have a lovely time!

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    1. Thanks. I hope you will come back to visit real soon. Have a blessed day x

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  11. We haven't tried raising grapes, but our tomatoes and squash plants are growing bigger every day. Robert says some small tomatoes are setting on already. Chard is also looking good. Too small yet to harvest. Your plans for a holiday sound lovely and including Heni for care is great. You are a busy mom with a high school girl going to prom and getting ready for college and a boy active in sports. WOW
    Thank you for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.

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    1. Sounds like you are going to get a bounteous harvest Hazel. I just planted some seeds yesterday for carrots spinach and spaghetti squash!

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  12. Hi Jade,
    I love the imagery of the grape vine! And oh,yes, we must focus on the good. On what we have accomplished. Hope lives in the good. When we take our attention off of the good and put it on what we have NOT done, the enemy wins and we lose hope! Thank you so much for sharing with us at #MomentsofHope!
    Blessings and smiles,
    Lori

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    1. Thanks for visiting again today Lori. Yes I agree ...Hope is fundamental and we should look forwards not backwards. Easier said than done sometimes though for me. I have to have lots of constant reminders! X

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  13. I'm not much of a gardener but I've just been outside and seen our rhubarb is growing a treat even though it's only the beginning of spring here in New England. So, I'll be harvesting the fruits of our labours very soon. Nice to read your blog. (I'm a Brit.)

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    1. A Britton who's a Brit how fun. Bet New England is gorgeous. Always wanted to visit there... Hopefully will one day Thanks for visiting Rachel x

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  14. Oh, I always do. That's why I find it hard to rest. I gotta be able to accomplish something for the day or the week.

    This is a good read. :)

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    1. Hope your week is blessed and you see the growth you desire Lux

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  15. I often focus more on what didn't get done also... but even the small dailies matter. Thanks for sharing with #thecozyreadingspot

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  16. My favourite saying is "by small and simple habits are great things brought to pass" ....daily habits are the small stuff and do matter like you say. Thanks for visiting. X

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