Deeply Rooted

I just fought with a plant...and I won.

I recently decided to rearrange some plantings in my backyard. VISION. The next step was to uproot the ones that I wanted to move. PLAN.

Everything was going smoothly until...(dun-dun-dun!), I began to uproot the plant from hell. OBSTACLE. Seriously, this plant must have had roots down to China.

My goal was to get that "nice" plant out of the bed and place it in another spot. Easy, right?

You must understand that when I first got this plant, it was tiny and cute. Once placed in the ground, it grew exponentially and became too large for the location, throwing the bed out of balance. Typically, people want their plants to thrive...but this was ridiculous! And it didn't require much care....sort of like a weed. Hmm...clue.

Mind you, I had a goal to complete this transplantation in one hour. It certainly could've worked, but I didn't account for the resistance I would unearth. (pun intended).

The digging, clipping, bending, cursing, cajoling went on for what seemed like an ete
ity. ACTION. It became laughable. I wasn't using the best tools. I was working alone. AND my muscles were already exhausted from a workout I had done earlier at the gym.

But! I decided that I needed to learn some lessons and one of them was to not give up when it gets tough. COMMITMENT. Some things don't change without a fight. I kept at this one plant for over an hour. The light was fading and I was determined to get this puppy out and be the victorious one. Part of what kept me going was thinking of writing about this and all the lessons that were there. ACCOUNTABILITY.

So I played tug-of-war with a Chinese gardener on the other side of the world. I would pull, then she would pull. Perhaps the plant was growing new roots as I was snipping old ones. I'm not sure.

Covered with wet mud all over my white sweatpants (yes I tried drowning it), I was able to sever the last bond and thrust my prize up in triumph. COMPLETION. Yes! I did it!!!!

(Crickets chirp.)

What is that stubborn plant in your life? What would it take to root it out?

Oh, and it's ok to ask for help. :-)