“Appreciation is often a matter of intentionally shifting our attention away from the pull of what is missing to notice more fully all that is present.”
— Kristi Nelson, Wake Up Grateful

Dear Subscriber First Name,

Spring is a mesmerizing time of year for me. Up and out well before the sun, I pitter-patter through my yard in bare feet and layers of sleep-garb that I’ve tried to make look somewhat presentable. In the cool, hazy dawn amidst a raucous chorus of bird-calls, I walk from plant to bush to tree to see what has grown and changed in the 24 hours since my last morning foray. Curiosity guides my hand to gently move what I can see so as to reveal more. There is never nothing new to note. Petals have unfurled, pods have opened, fresh leaves have emerged and some have dropped, stems are taller and some have fallen where rain and wind have had their way. Bursts of color appear in unexpected places. Rabbits have ransacked flower buds which now lie on the ground adjacent to their host plants. It’s all there for my notice and my tending. My surprise. My edification. My appreciation…

Appreciation. Even though I typically use the term to refer to things for which I am grateful, to appreciate something doesn’t necessarily mean we are glad about it. It can simply mean that we are able to see and understand it, which is actually not very simple at all; it means we have the ability to recognize and acknowledge something we might not choose or even agree with. Used in this way, “I can appreciate that” hints at acceptance more than delight. Perhaps then, this one burgeoning term, appreciation - the focus of my insight this week and this museletter - lays out a helpful path for us as we navigate the challenges of a garden, our relationships…life itself.

When I see the severed, beautiful dark orange and bright red buds on the ground, I cannot say I’m at all grateful for the bunnies’ beheading of my new poppies. But, if I pause (key) and can put myself in their little paws for a moment, I can imagine how enticing bright, bulbous poppy pods might be, especially at bunny-eye-height. With the arrival of a bit of empathy, I can appreciate that this is how bunnies “bunny”. It’s not personal. It’s not malicious. It’s life doing its thing. With an intentional breath and a more spacious perspective, my appreciation shifts from acceptance to enjoyment. I am actually laughing, wishing I could have watched as the bunnies had their first earth altar party! Also, I remember that I “get to” garden. I commit to doing something preventative next year if I choose. I pick up the buds to enjoy and display indoors, and leave the empty stems waving in the morning light.

A few end-of-May takeaways I leave you with:

• Don’t forget to tend the garden of your relationships. There is never nothing new to note. People can grow more in a day than plants do. Be curious about how the people you see every day are changing, blooming, and/or feeling severed from their pods. Dare to ask them about it.

  • Who could you offer greater care and curiosity today?

• Remember that perspective is what moves us along the path from begrudging to befriending our experiences. Notice the ways that what you are able to learn to appreciate (as in acceptance and understanding) can open the door to gratefulness.

  • Where could more acceptance give you the perspective you need?

• Taking a breath before you respond changes everything.

  • When do you most often need to remember to pause and breathe?

• Every fallen flower can become an earth altar if we choose to be resilient and resourceful with what may seem disappointing in the moment. So much is possible if we let go of our attachment to how we think things should go, and allow ourselves to imagine something new.

  • What can you create out of a difficult situation right now?

This museletter and my website are here to support you in offering attention and appreciation to the people and things that matter most to you. Please freely avail yourself of the gifts awaiting you.

With grateful care, always -

PS - Thank you for being part of this beloved community. If you want to help our little garden grow, please consider sharing this museletter! It would mean a lot.

In the Nourishment of Appreciation

an article about the difference that grateful attention makes

“We can sometimes stumble through our lives half-asleep, half-hearted, or at half-mast. Everything in our lives suffers when we merely go through the motions of our days or greet what arrives on the doorstep of our awareness with an entitled, ambivalent, or reluctant welcome…”

Appreciation is Generative

a short, daily meditation for living gratefully

This short, profound audio meditation reminds us about the power of attention and appreciation to enrich our lives, our relationships, and the world we occupy.

The Cure For It All

a poem by Julia Fehrenbacher