My husband always reminds me that it is cheating to be judgmental with my past "Beth" because she didn't know what she didn't know and she did her best! (Yup, I tend to be VERY hard on myself...) Current Beth has seen the answer sheet and is now frustrated with former Beth that she took a test with the knowledge available at the time and didn't score 100%? Not fair! I could keep going with this metaphor but you get the idea...
I tend to be hard on my past, present and future selves as well. Lately, the question "Would your teenage self be proud of you now?" Has been going around in my head a lot. I'm turning 30 on Friday and my body is in rough shape. Teenage me was excited about starting their career, present me is unable to work and sometimes hardly able to leave the bed. But I'm learning more and more about myself and I live in the city with my cat. Past me would love that. When I was 16, I wrote down a life plan that included marrying a man and having 3 kids before 30. I'm not interested in men, marriage or having children. I simply thought that it was the height of achievement back then. I'm so happy that I realized that not everyone fits the mold, especially not me. And I love berries, my favorite are cherries (I know they're not technically berries). I came across a stall selling local berries today and bought a whole kg of cherries 😍🍒
I love blueberries especially those big plump ones. But I've heard from people that it's tough to battle against nature when you plant something so tasty. I just figure there's probably enough for everybody to enjoy at some point. Think I'm unhappy with my past so I just have to figure she was learning. She didn't know well enough sometimes. Still learning from her.
I planted a service berry tree in my front tree. It was the cutest tree with beautiful flowers in the spring and lovely berries later in the summer. It seemed like there were berries one day and then all gone the next as soon as they were ripe because the birds loved them. I loved feeding the birds and my dog ate the berries that fell to the ground. But on August 10, 2020 a derecho storm came through Iowa and upended my tree. I called around to see if replanting the tree was a viable option and was told “no”. I still miss my lovely tree and am pretty sure the birds miss it too. With regard to our previous selves- we need to remember to be kind because know we know more.
Beautiful words and paintings. I often feel embarrassed and even be angry with my past self after recalling my past, but I am anticipating my future self and don't think that my future self will hate the present me. I hope I will be a fit old woman in the future who walks in the park every day and often looks back on my long life with a smile on my face.
The first time I ate fresh blueberries was such a borderline religious experience that I wrote a poem about it. If I could eat them straight off the bushes in my yard I imagine I would probably ascend
Lucky you! Blueberries are loaded with antioxidants...very good for your present and future self! You are also fortunate to have the man who planted them and the kind of soil that naturally nourishes them.
I loved this post because I always think in terms of my past and future self. ("Why did past me spend so much time on Substack rather than doing work?") I try to do nice things for my future self, like prepping all the camping gear at the end of a trip so it's ready the next time.
Gardening is definitely a way to be kind to your future self, since you won't realize the benefits of what you're doing today for some time.
You just brought my blood pressure down about 20 numbers with your discussion of blueberries. I wish I were your neighbor and could experience your musings in real time! Thanks for keeping it real and mellow and joyful! I’m subscribing! 🫐
We planted a tiney blueberry bush last year. This year it had 20 or so blueberries and they all disappeared. I blamed the rabbits, but it could have been birds.
My husband always reminds me that it is cheating to be judgmental with my past "Beth" because she didn't know what she didn't know and she did her best! (Yup, I tend to be VERY hard on myself...) Current Beth has seen the answer sheet and is now frustrated with former Beth that she took a test with the knowledge available at the time and didn't score 100%? Not fair! I could keep going with this metaphor but you get the idea...
I tend to be hard on my past, present and future selves as well. Lately, the question "Would your teenage self be proud of you now?" Has been going around in my head a lot. I'm turning 30 on Friday and my body is in rough shape. Teenage me was excited about starting their career, present me is unable to work and sometimes hardly able to leave the bed. But I'm learning more and more about myself and I live in the city with my cat. Past me would love that. When I was 16, I wrote down a life plan that included marrying a man and having 3 kids before 30. I'm not interested in men, marriage or having children. I simply thought that it was the height of achievement back then. I'm so happy that I realized that not everyone fits the mold, especially not me. And I love berries, my favorite are cherries (I know they're not technically berries). I came across a stall selling local berries today and bought a whole kg of cherries 😍🍒
I love blueberries especially those big plump ones. But I've heard from people that it's tough to battle against nature when you plant something so tasty. I just figure there's probably enough for everybody to enjoy at some point. Think I'm unhappy with my past so I just have to figure she was learning. She didn't know well enough sometimes. Still learning from her.
I planted a service berry tree in my front tree. It was the cutest tree with beautiful flowers in the spring and lovely berries later in the summer. It seemed like there were berries one day and then all gone the next as soon as they were ripe because the birds loved them. I loved feeding the birds and my dog ate the berries that fell to the ground. But on August 10, 2020 a derecho storm came through Iowa and upended my tree. I called around to see if replanting the tree was a viable option and was told “no”. I still miss my lovely tree and am pretty sure the birds miss it too. With regard to our previous selves- we need to remember to be kind because know we know more.
Beautiful words and paintings. I often feel embarrassed and even be angry with my past self after recalling my past, but I am anticipating my future self and don't think that my future self will hate the present me. I hope I will be a fit old woman in the future who walks in the park every day and often looks back on my long life with a smile on my face.
The first time I ate fresh blueberries was such a borderline religious experience that I wrote a poem about it. If I could eat them straight off the bushes in my yard I imagine I would probably ascend
Lucky you! Blueberries are loaded with antioxidants...very good for your present and future self! You are also fortunate to have the man who planted them and the kind of soil that naturally nourishes them.
It brings back wonderful memories of picking blueberries on Sauvie Island!
I loved this post because I always think in terms of my past and future self. ("Why did past me spend so much time on Substack rather than doing work?") I try to do nice things for my future self, like prepping all the camping gear at the end of a trip so it's ready the next time.
Gardening is definitely a way to be kind to your future self, since you won't realize the benefits of what you're doing today for some time.
Enjoy the blueberries!
Wild and homegrown berries are my favorite food. I would happily eat them till I exploded.
Ok so Im thinking small nest like weaved cups to sell Brooke’s & Boaz Blueberries.
Brooke & Boaz Blueberry Bites Bird Buffet Baskets Bonanza
You just brought my blood pressure down about 20 numbers with your discussion of blueberries. I wish I were your neighbor and could experience your musings in real time! Thanks for keeping it real and mellow and joyful! I’m subscribing! 🫐
I just got back from my local park. There’s a bunch of wild raspberries bushes that grow, and I was picking and munching on them at the park hehe
I love this topic and feel varying emotions about past selves!
Highly recommend raspberries if you don’t have them. They’ve been easy to grow.
We planted a tiney blueberry bush last year. This year it had 20 or so blueberries and they all disappeared. I blamed the rabbits, but it could have been birds.
I wrote about blueberries this week, too. Mostly the birds and we share them.