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