Comments on: How It All Began http://inthegardenonline.com/main/2010/03/how-it-all-began/ Growing, Cooking, and Crafting from the Garden Tue, 15 May 2012 19:05:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Julia http://inthegardenonline.com/main/2010/03/how-it-all-began/comment-page-1/#comment-1060 Julia Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:41:04 +0000 http://inthegardenonline.com/main/?p=1381#comment-1060 I finally had the courage to read past the first paragraph today. Yep, I put it off that long because I just knew it would dredge up old memories for me as well. You are not alone and now some of the rest of us know we're not alone either. I used gardening as a means of coping with living in the shadow of my parent's divorce when I was a pre-teen. And yes, thank god for my grandmothers. Thanks for hitting 'publish', xo I finally had the courage to read past the first paragraph today. Yep, I put it off that long because I just knew it would dredge up old memories for me as well. You are not alone and now some of the rest of us know we’re not alone either. I used gardening as a means of coping with living in the shadow of my parent’s divorce when I was a pre-teen. And yes, thank god for my grandmothers.

Thanks for hitting ‘publish’,

xo

]]> By: Valerie http://inthegardenonline.com/main/2010/03/how-it-all-began/comment-page-1/#comment-1041 Valerie Sat, 10 Apr 2010 15:40:04 +0000 http://inthegardenonline.com/main/?p=1381#comment-1041 I loved reading about what brought you to gardening because it helped me to solidify in my mind why it is that I garden. I don't have the most praiseworthy, attractive, awe-inspiring garden. I don't 'know' things that I can share as an 'expert' with others. I simplify feel called outside to get my hands in the dirt (I am one of those that MUST feel the dirt and touch the little growing things). Success is not necessarily my aim, though it is a great feeling to eat beans straight off the bush (that I grew!) - so what is? I think it is that I am connecting myself to the heart of God's' creation - 'feeling' it beat, hearing it breathe. When I am there, in the garden, nothing else matters. And of course, it gets me out of housework (which I hate!), lol. I loved reading about what brought you to gardening because it helped me to solidify in my mind why it is that I garden. I don’t have the most praiseworthy, attractive, awe-inspiring garden. I don’t ‘know’ things that I can share as an ‘expert’ with others. I simplify feel called outside to get my hands in the dirt (I am one of those that MUST feel the dirt and touch the little growing things). Success is not necessarily my aim, though it is a great feeling to eat beans straight off the bush (that I grew!) – so what is? I think it is that I am connecting myself to the heart of God’s’ creation – ‘feeling’ it beat, hearing it breathe. When I am there, in the garden, nothing else matters. And of course, it gets me out of housework (which I hate!), lol.

]]> By: Chookie http://inthegardenonline.com/main/2010/03/how-it-all-began/comment-page-1/#comment-1031 Chookie Wed, 07 Apr 2010 01:28:34 +0000 http://inthegardenonline.com/main/?p=1381#comment-1031 Just back after an Easter holiday. I am so glad you felt able to post this, and so glad that you chose gardening over the other forms of self-medication. Just back after an Easter holiday. I am so glad you felt able to post this, and so glad that you chose gardening over the other forms of self-medication.

]]> By: linda http://inthegardenonline.com/main/2010/03/how-it-all-began/comment-page-1/#comment-1028 linda Tue, 06 Apr 2010 01:13:22 +0000 http://inthegardenonline.com/main/?p=1381#comment-1028 Hi Colleen, everything you had to endure as a child is part of what makes you who you are. Thank goodness you found peace, solace, and purpose with those weeds, and thank heavens for grandparents. Hi Colleen, everything you had to endure as a child is part of what makes you who you are. Thank goodness you found peace, solace, and purpose with those weeds, and thank heavens for grandparents.

]]> By: Jan (Thanks For Today) http://inthegardenonline.com/main/2010/03/how-it-all-began/comment-page-1/#comment-1012 Jan (Thanks For Today) Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:55:22 +0000 http://inthegardenonline.com/main/?p=1381#comment-1012 Hi Colleen, I'm so glad I stopped by today and thank you for this lovely post. It's not often easy to share personal things-but I'm glad you were able to-because I think you have touched many lives with your story. Gardening is truly therapeutic for many of us--and so much more, including a saving grace, as you've described. Hi Colleen, I’m so glad I stopped by today and thank you for this lovely post. It’s not often easy to share personal things-but I’m glad you were able to-because I think you have touched many lives with your story. Gardening is truly therapeutic for many of us–and so much more, including a saving grace, as you’ve described.

]]> By: TC http://inthegardenonline.com/main/2010/03/how-it-all-began/comment-page-1/#comment-1005 TC Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:01:42 +0000 http://inthegardenonline.com/main/?p=1381#comment-1005 Ms. Colleen, your story is inspiring and proves that "weeding" really is an important part of life in and out of the garden. It's no wonder that gardening heals so many of life's cuts and bruises, even when these wounds are deeper than anyone can imagine. You and I have some things in common, perhaps we'll get a chance to talk in person sometime, across the "garden gate" at a future GWA meeting. Ms. Colleen, your story is inspiring and proves that “weeding” really is an important part of life in and out of the garden. It’s no wonder that gardening heals so many of life’s cuts and bruises, even when these wounds are deeper than anyone can imagine. You and I have some things in common, perhaps we’ll get a chance to talk in person sometime, across the “garden gate” at a future GWA meeting.

]]> By: Colleen Vanderlinden http://inthegardenonline.com/main/2010/03/how-it-all-began/comment-page-1/#comment-996 Colleen Vanderlinden Sat, 27 Mar 2010 15:44:52 +0000 http://inthegardenonline.com/main/?p=1381#comment-996 Oh, my gosh. Thanks for the comments, everyone. I mentioned before that I kept going back and forth about whether to publish this or not. The two things I kept thinking were "who cares?" and "you're going to sound like a whiner." I ended up publishing it mostly for myself, because there are several things in this post that I'm still trying to let go of. I think it helped in some ways, but I feel very self-conscious about the fact that so many people read it. I can't tell you how much your kind comments have meant to me -- thank you. Annie -- Thank you! Wendi -- Thanks for the kind comments about both my writing and the contents of the post -- I appreciate it. Kim -- Thanks :-) Kylee -- I agree. I'm just never sure where the "line" is -- how much is too much and whether anyone really needs to know this kind of stuff or not. Thank you, my friend. Gayla -- Thank you. Those words mean a lot coming from you. Gardenbre -- Thanks for reading. Gina -- It's interesting that we keep discovering how much we have in common. Thank you. Lisa -- We should! Thanks for reading and commenting. Tina -- Thanks. I'm glad I made the choices I made, for sure (though at the time, it didn't feel like much of anything important. You just never know.) Flo -- Thank you very much. Kate -- Me too! Thank you for commenting. Jan -- Thank you! Lona -- I agree. I was very lucky to have my grandma! Dave -- Thanks. It definitely gave me a good lesson in the importance of family. I never want any of my kids to feel like that. Helen -- Thank you. I never looked at it as strength at all. I just kind of did it because I couldn't imagine not being there for her. I often think that I needed her more than she needed me, even at the end. She was a toughie. MBT -- Succinct as always :-) Thanks for reading. Monica -- I am still one of those people who just wants to please everyone. I'm starting to let it go (getting older and crankier, I guess :-) ) but it has taken a while. Thanks for commenting. Sarah -- Thank you. Some of my best qualities of my personality come from the time I spent with her, I'm sure of it. Thanks for reading and commenting. Oh, my gosh. Thanks for the comments, everyone. I mentioned before that I kept going back and forth about whether to publish this or not. The two things I kept thinking were “who cares?” and “you’re going to sound like a whiner.” I ended up publishing it mostly for myself, because there are several things in this post that I’m still trying to let go of. I think it helped in some ways, but I feel very self-conscious about the fact that so many people read it. I can’t tell you how much your kind comments have meant to me — thank you.

Annie — Thank you!

Wendi — Thanks for the kind comments about both my writing and the contents of the post — I appreciate it.

Kim — Thanks :-)

Kylee — I agree. I’m just never sure where the “line” is — how much is too much and whether anyone really needs to know this kind of stuff or not. Thank you, my friend.

Gayla — Thank you. Those words mean a lot coming from you.

Gardenbre — Thanks for reading.

Gina — It’s interesting that we keep discovering how much we have in common. Thank you.

Lisa — We should! Thanks for reading and commenting.

Tina — Thanks. I’m glad I made the choices I made, for sure (though at the time, it didn’t feel like much of anything important. You just never know.)

Flo — Thank you very much.

Kate — Me too! Thank you for commenting.

Jan — Thank you!

Lona — I agree. I was very lucky to have my grandma!

Dave — Thanks. It definitely gave me a good lesson in the importance of family. I never want any of my kids to feel like that.

Helen — Thank you. I never looked at it as strength at all. I just kind of did it because I couldn’t imagine not being there for her. I often think that I needed her more than she needed me, even at the end. She was a toughie.

MBT — Succinct as always :-) Thanks for reading.

Monica — I am still one of those people who just wants to please everyone. I’m starting to let it go (getting older and crankier, I guess :-) ) but it has taken a while. Thanks for commenting.

Sarah — Thank you. Some of my best qualities of my personality come from the time I spent with her, I’m sure of it. Thanks for reading and commenting.

]]> By: Sarah from Toronto Gardens http://inthegardenonline.com/main/2010/03/how-it-all-began/comment-page-1/#comment-994 Sarah from Toronto Gardens Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:00:23 +0000 http://inthegardenonline.com/main/?p=1381#comment-994 I'm glad you hit publish. Thank you for for sharing your story. And yes, it's one that many of us can relate to, including myself. One of the most painful things to happen to a child is to be neglected and abandoned by parents who are technically present. Wonderful that you were able to save yourself by turning to the garden and your own efforts there. The garden is such a healing, magical, elemental place. Also it was wonderful that you had your grandmother for a time to love and care for you. Good that you have the memory of those times with her. I’m glad you hit publish. Thank you for for sharing your story. And yes, it’s one that many of us can relate to, including myself.

One of the most painful things to happen to a child is to be neglected and abandoned by parents who are technically present. Wonderful that you were able to save yourself by turning to the garden and your own efforts there. The garden is such a healing, magical, elemental place.

Also it was wonderful that you had your grandmother for a time to love and care for you. Good that you have the memory of those times with her.

]]> By: Monica the Garden Faerie http://inthegardenonline.com/main/2010/03/how-it-all-began/comment-page-1/#comment-993 Monica the Garden Faerie Sat, 27 Mar 2010 04:03:08 +0000 http://inthegardenonline.com/main/?p=1381#comment-993 I totally relate to growing up in a messed up family... the details are very different, but I grew up feeling alone (not having even a grandma) without feeling I had a right to my feelings. And I can totally relate trying to please people who, based on their own personal shortcomings, can't be pleased. though; in fact I grew up having no interest in it and possibly an aversion to it. I still plan to do my "it all started with a tomato" post. Thanks for sharing your experience. I totally relate to growing up in a messed up family… the details are very different, but I grew up feeling alone (not having even a grandma) without feeling I had a right to my feelings. And I can totally relate trying to please people who, based on their own personal shortcomings, can’t be pleased. though; in fact I grew up having no interest in it and possibly an aversion to it. I still plan to do my “it all started with a tomato” post. Thanks for sharing your experience.

]]> By: MrBrownThumb http://inthegardenonline.com/main/2010/03/how-it-all-began/comment-page-1/#comment-992 MrBrownThumb Sat, 27 Mar 2010 03:30:15 +0000 http://inthegardenonline.com/main/?p=1381#comment-992 Wow. Wow.

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