100 Posts in 100 Days
Yesterday’s post was about living in the moment with a sense of abundance and appreciation and choosing that over feeling “homesick” and a sense of loss or missing out.
I struggled to get my ideas out and coherent. I posted it, knowing I wasn’t really happy with it. So, it’s been in the back of mind for the past several hours.
Then this ordinary thing happened:
This morning, I was preparing a bowl of fruit for breakfast: Bananas, mixed berries, some seeds & nuts. I have this breakfast frequently – whether I’m in Brasil or home in the US. It’s the same.
Except…as I was prepping the berries, I said to myself, “Oh, I miss the blackberries from Washington.” And then I thought… “Is that an example of homesickness?”
Before going on, I just need to paint the picture. Brasil has many amazing fruits, the variety and quality of which we don’t get in the US. Those breakfast bananas, for example. Blackberries, however, are not one of them. The blackberries in Brasil are small, often under ripened and sour, and need to be enjoyed soon after buying them. The blackberries in Washington grow wild, are 3x the size of what I get in Brasil, are juicy and bursting with flavor. I love them au natural, in desserts, as jam and syrup, and mixed into cool summer beverages.
What does this have to do with homesickness?
Well, it’s all in my mindset & framing of the experience. I could focus on what I miss and don’t get in Brasil. But, I’m making a different choice. I’m choosing to thoroughly enjoy and savor the sweetness and quality of these blackberries and will do so for the duration of my visit. This is what I mean by living in the moment with a sense of abundance. I get to choose how I frame this simple breakfast experience. I’m grateful for this treat and relishing in the flavors.
Which led me to consider the concepts of quality and conditions. Why are the blackberries in Washington so much better than those in Brasil? And how can they simultaneously produce such delicious fruit while being considered an invasive species?
Well, they are native to the area. The cool, wet weather, the higher elevation, and the moist soil conditions, and the length of the growing season all contribute to the size and sweetness of the fruit and the speed with which the plants multiply and spread. Everything combines to provide the optimal environment for growth.
Even when the conditions aren’t optimal, success can be achieved. I still get the fruit in Brasil. It might be imported, it might be grown in greenhouses, it might be grown outdoors with a little extra attention. I’m Brasil, there is likely a little more attention to creating the conditions for producing the fruit. And that’s the leadership point.
Not everything is going to come naturally, spread like wild blackberry bushes, and produce giant fruit. Some things are going to need a bit more attention, planning, and garnering of resources. With that card and intentionality, success can be achieved.
Working with a mindset of abundance and appreciation coupled with the work of optimizing conditions to the best of your ability lead to results.