Is it helping or hindering?

Dearest,

How are you? How is your body? How does it feel? And your mind? Is it working in sync with the activities you've undertaken today? How about your spirit - that essence that can't be seen but can have such a big impact when worn down.

Starting at the thick mass of plus blossoms is certainly helping my spirit. Natures ability to recharge and replenish never fails to surprise me, though by now it really shouldn't.

How has the week been for you? What have you learnt? Did you have any conversations that challenged your views? I think Frankie, my sourdough starter, has shown me that perhaps help can sometime hinder and it got me thinking. Do we end up holding back others progress by continually helping them?

I'm not talking about the kind of help that's provided when a crisis occurs or someone is unwell. I'm talking about the "help" we provide in the everyday tasks. When we make others lives easier by doing things for them that they are more than capable of doing themselves.

With Frankie, I got out of the habit of taking responsibility to feed it each day. If I hadn't someone else did. Only when I nearly destroyed Frankie, after eight months of dedication and attention, I realised the help had made me lazy.

I know all our kids can cook, clean and run households by themselves. And I also know they don't do it half as much when their Dad and I are around. Like me, when they have to they do but if they don't have to, well they don't.

Is there anyone in your life you've inadvertently made lazy or dumbed down because of your help? I also got to see the joy of achieving something on your own this weekend. Our daughter purchasing a car. All her own funds. All her own decisions. The personal satisfaction she clearly felt was awesome to see. While I'd do anything for my kiddos, clearly not doing everything is the greatest gift I can actually give them.

Wishing you the wonderful gift of achieving something this week - big or small. Take care Dearest - of yourself, of others, of your thoughts, of your actions and of our beautiful world.

You are worthy - always.

Ngā manaakitanga xx