We don’t mind weeds around here…

In my pre-farm life, I always thought of dandelions as “weeds.”. This first year on the farm, as the snow melted and the Earth woke up, I saw the dandelions coming.… lots of them. I panicked. I was already struggling to figure out how I was going to do all of the things on my to-do list: till the field, place the irrigation system, build a compost bin, harvest thousands of daffodils and tulips (and peonies, roses, etc.), start a small business, work as a RN, AND still be the best parent and husband I can be.  AND now pull thousands of dandelions!? I’m anxious just reliving the conversation I had with myself a couple weeks ago.

I quickly realized that picking all the dandelions would be futile. As I worked around the farm and tried getting to know all the flowers, shrubs, trees, and grasses that co-exist on Moondance Fam, I noticed how many bees were on the dandelions. “Wait, I thought dandelions were weeds i.e. not useful or necessary?” As I paid more attention, I’ve come to realize that thousands of bees have used Moondance dandelions as a way to get nectar and pollen early in the season. Instantly, my perception on dandelions changed! I started to appreciate them for their beautiful, yellow flowers. I appreciated them for their persistence. They are an early pop of color after long, winter months and provide a crucial gateway to the Sun filled skies of Summer for pollinators (and me, now 😊). Who decided that a manicured, perfect lawn free of these “weeds” was better?

To me, it’s helpful to think of dandelions like negative thoughts. They are persistent. They pop up everywhere and have deep roots that are difficult to remove.

“I’m not good enough for…”

“I can’t…”

“I should be better…”

But what if you took a moment to notice the dandelions in your brain and ask “Why is this [thought] popping up now?” Noticing the negative thought can help identify where anxiety or overwhelm pops up, just like those dandelions. Then the next step, this is the tough part for me, is avoiding rushing to judgment about that dandelion. Can you shift perspective on that negative thought to serve you rather than drain you? Maybe your negative thought is serving as a reminder for you to take a deep breath and not be so hard on yourself. A reminder to slow down - pause and feel the wind on your face, stop and enjoy the intensity of the sun for a moment. Perhaps we can notice our dandelions and thank them for helping us recognize our innate humanness. Afterall, dandelions do make a great crowns – maybe we can weave those negative thoughts into a whole new, beautiful way of thinking.  

Take care of yourself. You deserve it.

Mark