Whispering Wyrd

I haven’t been writing as much lately obviously. Life has been really busy lately but really good and full too!

We’ve been settling into our forever home, and moving doesn’t really end when the boxes are unpacked. There are gardens to tend, little projects to finish, things to clean, organize, repair, and improve on. Every day seems to bring another small task. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’ve been spending a lot of time outside, working in the garden and enjoying this little piece of Earth we’ve been blessed to care for. One of my favorite parts of living here is being able to step into our backyard, breathe deep, and practice Tai Chi and qigong in peace. The walls around each yard give everybody a little privacy and that little bit of quiet has become something I appreciate more than I expected. We’ve also met several neighbors already, and they’ve all been really nice. It feels like we’ve landed exactly where we’re supposed to be.

Bernalillo is definitely hotter than Santa Fe, especially this time of year. But every place is different and offers something different. Here we trade the long bitter winters of Santa Fe for a longer growing season. As somebody who loves gardening that’s a trade I’m happy to make.

Since I’ve gotten older I notice myself appreciating the ordinary things more than the extraordinary ones. Watering tomatoes in the evening. Pulling a few weeds and sweeping the porches. Watching the sunsets. Years ago I would have hurried through moments like these without even giving them a second thought. But now they can feel like the best parts of the day.

Happiness isn’t always found in the “big moments” we can spend so much time chasing. It’s there for us in the simple every day moments if we finally slow down enough to notice them.

At sixty years old, sober and clean, sharing this home with the woman I love, I find myself happier than I’ve ever been. Ever. If somebody had shown me this life I’m living now ten years ago, I wouldn’t have believed it was possible. But life has a way of surprising us.

So if you’re reading this and carrying a heavy burden whether it’s addiction, grief, fear, or just feeling stuck, I hope you’ll hold on a little longer. Not because tomorrow is guaranteed to be easy, but because tomorrow doesn’t have to look like today.

Sometimes healing happens so gradually we might hardly notice it. A little more hope and a little more patience. Before long we look around and realize we’ve grown into a life we used to think was impossible. I guess that’s what gardening has been reminding me of lately. You tend the soil, you water regularly and pull a few weeds. For a while it can seem like nothing is happening at all. But under the surface life is doing what life does. People aren’t so different in that respect… We all need the right kind of tending to so we can reach our potential. At least that’s what I think.

Take good care of yourself wherever you are on your journey. Don’t give up! There’s more growing beneath the surface than you may be able to see.

Amituofo
~Buck