Tag: Keep Moving

Frustration-A Lesson in Perseverance

ninamariesabina

Have you ever worked on something for years to no avail? I have. I’m trying not to become frustrated, but it’s difficult.

A few years ago right before Covid, I decided it would be fun to begin a blog on gardening. I had never blogged before and did not know how to create a blogging website. But after perusing the net, I joined a particular platform (which shall not be named) and took baby steps to create a gardening site.

I have to admit, it was a lot of fun; frustrating at times, but fun. It kept my mind engaged which is important to me. I have been retired from teaching since 2017 and am concerned about a deteriorating mind as I age. This, I thought, would keep me sharp.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning the ins and outs of web design and was extremely excited to create meaningful posts that gardeners would enjoy reading.

In addition to sharing information with others, I was hoping to earn a little passive income. Unfortunately, that has not happened. However I get a real sense of accomplishment after I post an article that educates others on how they can garden using sustainable methods which ultimately improves the health of our earth.

Jump forward to 2023 and I am still blogging.

Through the years I changed the theme numerous times and even hired a couple of people to help me make it appear more professional .

During my journey many questioned why I was still blogging as a gardener, especially since I was not creating much of an income. It made me think about giving up but not for long. If I had listened to them and just stopped, I know I would really be disappointed in myself. For every negative comment said to me, there was this little guardian angel telling me to just keep going.

Which I have.

After evaluating my successes and failures in this endeavor, I have decided to take a different avenue. In addition to continue blogging, I have created a service section which enables me to engage with my readers and instruct them on actually starting a garden.

After an initial consultation, I compile a plan that explains exactly what to do to create a beautiful garden in their yard. Included in this plan is a comprehensive list of what to purchase given their particular geographic needs, explanations on how to create the initial garden and how to plant each item, and information on how to maintain the garden. I also give them an actual diagram to scale of their yard showing where to plant the items.

I have had a couple of clients since I began this new venture, however it has not been easy to market this profile. Frustration.

Yes, I am frustrated, again. However I have learned that the endgame is not always what you think. I have learned sooo much from family and friends who have helped me not only with how to present the information through Word, but how to market this service and my blog.

So I guess what I’m saying is that yes, you will be frustrated in whatever you pursue, but the journey holds more of a learning experience than the actual final event. Embrace your frustrations, learn from them, and as Dorie from Finding Nemo said, “just keep swimming, swimming, swimming!” You never know where you’ll end up!

Here is a testimonial of my service:

I am very pleased with the landscaping design that Nina put together for my yard. I’ve always wanted to create a pollinator garden, but didn’t know where to start and what plants would survive the hungry rabbits we have in our area. We had an initial call during which Nina asked a series of questions to fully understand my current landscaping design and what I would like the final design to look like. Nina then promptly put together a comprehensive, custom landscaping design including a set of visual plans, detailed instructions on transplanting existing plants and caring for new ones, and a handy ‘shopping list’ of suggested plants to purchase. I now feel like I have the tools I need to implement the landscaping plan I’ve always wanted but was unable to develop on my own. I would highly recommend Nina and her services!

If you’re interested in checking out my gardening website, click Best Gardening for Beginners.

Boredom

ninamariesabina

Well, it has been almost 5 months of quarantine, social distancing, mask wearing, remote shopping, remote working…….in other words, a complete life style change. And with this comes apprehension, depression, anxiety, and boredom. Boredom seems to creep up on us when we least expect it. We think we’re coping well with the situation by planning our day either the night before or the morning of and checking off all we accomplished during the day. But then, bam, here it is. You walk around your home thinking I don’t feel like playing piano or completing another Spanish lesson or reading another book or watching the news (which is so depressing to begin with) or even gaining a level on Wordscapes. So what to do???

Well, as I see it you only have two choices. One, give into it and plop on the couch and watch some mindless television, OR literally force yourself to get up and move. For some of us that moving part can be a challenge in itself. I know from experience because I am awaiting surgery so it is quite a feat to move these days. But, like Dick Van Dyke’s book “Keep Moving” explains, you cannot give into sloth-like behavior. You must get up and move. I guarantee once you get your body in gear, you will feel so much better and the boredom will quickly dissipate. I find the hardest part, though, is not deciding what to do, but actually forcing myself to “change channels” and begin something. So if you can take that first step, you’re on the road to freedom.

Here are just a few ideas to consider when boredom sets in. The one I enjoy the most is just going outside into my extremely small backyard and look at the flowers, watch the birds, hear the wind rustling through the leaves, take note of the squirrels’ activities, watch the chipmunks, deadhead flowers, rearrange pots, pull some weeds, watch the cloud formations, listen to the fountain or listen to the birds. Being in nature always gives me an automatic boost. It is very zen and very therapeutic.

Another activity is go for a walk (with your mask on of course) and notice your surroundings. So many people take walks but never observe anything. Every time I walk through my little town I always seem to notice something I had never seen before, such as a veranda on a home, a new door, different flowers in bloom, pets roaming around, trees that were removed or planted. It’s time to use all your senses when outside. You’d be amazed at what you’ll discover.

How about doing some jumping jacks or yoga stretches. There are many youtube videos on yoga for beginners or advanced practitioners. Try playing cards with a friend……my favorite is rummy. I am extremely competitive, but even when I lose, it gets my juices flowing. Or play a board game with someone. How about rearranging furniture or rearranging your pictures on your walls? And then there is always pulling out the vacuum and cleaning your carpet.

In other words, just do it! Check out the youtube video “Just Do It” with Shia LaBeouf. I hope your boredom passes as mine just did, because I got off my tush and wrote this Blog!!! Stay safe, and be well.