My garden in Florida
by Barbara Mulloy-Robbins
Much of our growth comes through hardships and challenges. When I lost my two boys, my life changed and I felt as if I could never embrace real joy again.
I remember attending a training class concerning the rules and etiquette within a hospice environment. Midway through the program, I was asked by the facilitator my feelings about death and dying. I had to be very honest and say that having moved painfully through the initial grieving process I had come to embrace the “gift” of the boys passing. I told her that it gave me an interesting perspective by softening my fear of death with the belief that if they could do it, so could I. Of course, my training in an Interfaith seminary along with spiritual studies brought me to this greater understanding. Curiously, it was one of their gifts to me wrapped up in this mysterious process of grieving and healing.
Well, I thought she would throw me out the door, but instead, she winked at me, as if we were both on the same wavelength.
I slowly began to understand what the expression “there can be no healing without creation” was all about. To me it meant create or die.
And so with those words, I surrendered to the wisdom in the passage from the Kabbalah…
“The falls of our life provide us with the energy to propel ourselves to a higher level..”
Following that train of thought I kept very busy with Interfaith services, Reiki, Healing Touch, spiritual conferences, facilitating grants for alcohol and drug prevention, healthy living for senior citizens and public speaking.
I’ve further concluded that because life is a continuing journey, and I can’t save the world without filling my half-empty cup. My loftier purpose, so to speak, is to take full advantage of self-nurturing activities by way of meditation, physical exercise, music, theatre, dance, meaningful relationships, and spending more time in nature.
I share with you some of my recent rewarding experiences:
a) Spiritual renewal: A Celebration of Life Conference in Phoenix, Arizona bringing together several thousand like-minded participants.
b) Relationships: Enjoying the company of loving and supportive friends, while keeping at arm’s length those with negative, toxic energy.
c) Enjoying those wonderful opportunities for travel.
d) Work: Presently re-launching the 2nd edition of my book.
e) My love for two scrappy little guys who fill my life with “joyous havoc.” I have to agree with John Grogan when he lovingly describes his beloved dog, Marley, “Bad dogs, if you can really call them that, are perhaps the greatest of them all.”
f) And last but not least of all, everything in my heart told me to make a garden; One where I quietly sit relaxing, meditating, and just allowing myself to be one with nature. I did it…I do it…and it’s beautiful!
With that observation in mind, I recall the words of Oscar Wilde when he wrote: “Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when all the flowers are dead.”
Ending on a much lighter note, here’s how Bob Newhart wraps it all up:
“All I can say about life is, Oh God, enjoy it!”
