The Tulips In My Back Yard
My husband and I still like each other.
We have had a lot of togetherness. A lot of uncertainty. A roller coaster of emotions.
Tulips take my husband outside. He tends the garden. The brown, rich earth is his medium. He disappears in the beauty of creation. He returns with a smile.
Tulips allow us some separation and space.
The garden helps us stay friends and our marriage stay healthy.
I give credit to the Tulips in our back yard. A sign of Spring. A sign of Renewal. A sign of Hope.
My Neck Of The Woods
We are allowed to go for walks in our neighbourhood. We are encouraged to exercise.
I am very grateful. I am aware many people on our planet do not have this privilege.
We have access to a forest and farms nearby.
We move one foot in front of the other. We are aware how time marches on.
Today’s present moment is more important than the past or the future.
I give credit to the Woods. Tranquil moments in nature replenish my soul.
Beautiful Words
I have many words that enter my life every day.
Words entertain me. They teach me.
Words comfort me. They sustain me.
The words seep into my pores.
I give credit to the Words. Words forever change me.
Grateful For My Life
Today I am healthy. I live in a tranquil, beautiful part of the world.
Today’s present moment is all I truly have.
I give credit to the Tulips, the Woods, and especially the Words.
What do you do to stay mentally and physically healthy?
Postscript:
I have mentioned before how I learn something new from every single post I read.
Please continue writing, sharing and connecting. You will not always know when you have made a difference in someone’s life.
A Few Recent Words:
- Lisa Dorenfest: “…life has prepared me for this moment….” “…visualizing what I want my life to look like post-pandemic.” Since I read these insightful words, I also have been “visualizing what I want my life to look like post-pandemic.” Thank you for your wisdom, Lisa. Lisa Dorenfest
- Lauren Baydreamer Exceptionally creative words capturing the mood and emotions of our present time. I am left with goosebumps long after reading this powerful palindrome poetry. “The Virus”
- Natalie Natalie the Explorer Shares a post each week where she focuses on “Every day is full of simple pleasures that make me feel positive and grateful.” “During these uncertain times, I choose to focus on the positives, work on finding a balance in my day, be flexible, and stay strong.” Natalie, your words help me focus on the beauty of my surroundings. You are an inspiration.
- Leanne Cresting The Hill Marie Kondo’s books refer to items and a life that sparks joy. Leanne’s words and her message resonated with me: “…it’s okay to not fill every waking moment with something meaningful.” “Doing less sparks a lot of joy for me.”
- Joanne And Anyways… Home schooling is a challenge for many right now. Joanne shared a meme that continues to make me smile. “It might take a village to raise a child, but it takes a vineyard to home-school one.”
- Sue Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond Shared a game she plays online with her six-year-old grandson, Ethan. They find five things starting with a letter of the day. Ethan writes it down, takes a photo of it and shares it with Sue. I began doing this last week with six-year-old Sadie. She loves this game! Thank you, Sue. You always make a difference in my week.
- Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer for British Columbia, informs calmly and clearly about COVID-19:
“This is not forever. This is just for now. Let’s all be kind, be calm, and stay safe.”
Behind the Scenery 
Wow – the tulips and woods and words here were a triple delight – glad you have some excellent walks and that find fine things game with the grandchildren sounds like a blast/ I will tuck that away for the future
– 🌸☀️
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Hi Yvette, Thank you for visiting. This little trail is a nine minute loop from my house. My husband and I do laps and catch up with our talking. Later on I go by myself in a different area. Thankful we are able to get outside. I hope all is well with you, your loved ones, and your neck of the woods.🙂🌹
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Things here are good – actually
Have my son moving to Texas for a new job (can you believe it? A new job landed during pandemic –
So happy for him – also sad to not see regularly like Living in same town –
But spread your wings and fly son! Hahaha
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Those tulips are incredible! My husband and I share this same understanding…He has the green thumb. 🙂
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Hi Renee, We are both lucky with our husband’s gardening skills. I find I just say “thank you” often and then continue with my own projects. I appreciate your thoughtful, kind comment.💕
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Wow! Your husband does a great job with those tulips! They are gorgeous. You have a beautiful garden. My hubby’s “tulips” are weightlifting. we like each other and get along great but I am glad when he goes to his workout room and lifts weights for an hour or so.
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Hi Laurie, I am thankful my husband does all sorts of puttering in the garden, vegetables and flowers. Like you say, too, as much as we like each other, it is nice to have some time apart. Workout room and weights also show your husband’s commitment to health. You both have a healthy lifestyle with the running and biking. 🙂Thank you for visiting and your kind comment.
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Erica, these are valuable tulips! One can understand then the XVII’s century tulip bulb market. Good tulips.
Credit to the woods, always. Every time we “forest bathe” as we did a few months ago in Japan, we are reminded of how much the forest nourishes us at an energetic level.
Credit to the words… It’s interesting how some words we hear, just stick… sometimes for months, or years. Words have a lot of power and often resonate and just hang out in one’s head. We all have these micro libraries swirling around with thousands of index cards in wooden boxes to draw from.
What do we do to stay physically and mentally healthy?
We have a current strict regimen of early morning walks to our beach with our three legged companion, where the energy from the ocean recharges us.. the sodium, the ions from the ocean, the fresh air and vitamin D from the sun are all contributive to good health.
While at the beach we swim, stretch, do yoga and meditate.
Peta & Ben
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Hi Peta and Ben, You are right, how for some reason certain words stay with us. It may be when we are receptive to hearing them they resonate with us. And then some wordsmiths weave their magic.
I love the photos I have seen on Instagram where you are by the ocean. I am glad to hear your three legged companion has integrated well with your family. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts. Take care. 🙂 Erica
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I love this and how your marriage works with some lovely tulips growing. Spaces to create in and spaces to be together in. I came via Natalie and would have met her in Spain but the virtual still connects like minds and beauty.
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Hi Georgina, Thank you for visiting from Natalie and sharing your thoughts. You are right about the privilege of having space. I realize many plans for people have changed this year. I am also glad we still can connect virtually. Nice meeting you! Take care. Erica
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Such beautiful words and photos Erica and I love your attitude to life. My husband is also the gardener in our family and he enjoys the serenity it brings him. Just so good to read your words xx
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Hi Deb, Thank you for visiting and sharing your thoughts. I am grateful my husband takes care of the garden. I just say “thank you.” I hope your husband is mending. Challenging for the family when you are concerned about your loved ones. xx 💕
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Erica, you have written a wonderful song to the beauty and power of flowers and trees,
of nature. Keeping you and your husband bonded.
I do so love the explosive colours of these tulip. The walks so very peaceful.
Miriam
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Thank you, Miriam. Coming from you this means a great deal. I am often not sure where my words and story will go until I sit down to write. Fun to be part of creativity whatever it is for each of us. For my husband, it is the garden. Like you say, peaceful. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Take care.
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BBless you Erica ! Creativity in all forms is a wondrous and enriching gift. So we go, even when
our silly minds think it is all dried up.
Hug
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There were times during the state of emergency here when I didn’t feel I liked my husband, and I’m very sure he felt the same. I would escape to my space… and he’d follow me! I am, I think, a natural loner. I love people, but I do need space. Thankfully we’ve moved on from this situation here and we can enjoy the company of others, within limits. Yesterday evening we went for a walk and a meal with 2 friends we haven’t seen since this started- too hot in the daytime right now. So nice to almost feel normal again. 🙂 🙂 As normal as I ever was! This is a lovely post, Erica. Wishing you and your family well!
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I have had some comments when I shared this on Social Media questioning if I love my husband. That is not the point. Of course, I love him. It is the “like” factor with all of this togetherness. Darn on following you to your space. I sometimes wonder whether women need their space more than men? My husband does not always ‘get it’ yet he accepts I need my space. We have not done the friends in real life, yet. Still cautious about who we let into our “bubble.” My daughter and her family had a picnic in our back yard. Our closest to normal. Thank you for your kind words, Jo, and sharing. Take care and I hope you and your loved ones are well.❤️
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Hi Erica, as you can see, I’m way behind on reading my favourite blogs. Beautiful tulips! You must have a deer-proof garden. For some reason, they love to eat tulips but leave the daffodils alone. The right combination having separate and shared interests makes for a great couples partnership.
Jude
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Thank you for your visit, Jude. I am like you where I will compartmentalize my reading of blogs depending on life.🙂
We have a pretty large fence, so no deer in the back yard. The occasional raccoon comes for a visit. It is exactly like you say, Jude, having separate and shared interests as a couple. You speak from experience.😀
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