I have spent a good part of my life fighting limitations – some physical, some time related, others probably created in my own mind. But now, after years of being like Sisyphus – cursed to roll a huge rock up a mountainside only to have it roll back down so I had to start again – I have finally learned that limitations can be my friend. In fact, more than that, they can help me in numerous ways, such as:

⦁ Opening my mind to new possibilities.
⦁ Suggesting ways to make the best of a situation in creative ways.
⦁ Teaching me patience, which carries over into other parts of my life.

All of these have helped me get around, over or (most often) through the walls put up by my personal limitations.

Let me give you an example.

I love gardening. But my husband and I have always rented a place to live. We have lived in our current half of a single-story duplex for nearly 50 years now. It is a “situation” with many limitations. Since the owners frowned on the idea of tearing up our front yard to plant a huge garden, I spent many years with a tiny little space where I could grow a few flowers and enjoy the outdoors here at home.

Frustrated that I could not grow any vegetables (they need space and sunlight), and wanting to have a sort of “English garden” of my own, where Nature is allowed to grow things its way, I finally decided to do some research. What I learned has taken me “from sad to glad” in a way I had never expected. And that is: “If you can grow it in the ground, you can likely grow it in a pot.” Hooray!

Nature is a wonderful co-gardener. I began collecting wooden planks for our walkway near the building so I could set out pots of herbs. And then came larger and larger pots – ones that could handle tomatoes, cucumbers, peas and other tasty items. And then came the flowers… pots, special decorative garden items like hanging baskets, reusing a small shelving unit, and others allowed our garden to expand in a way that did not “permanently” destroy the front yard. Every available space that was reasonable became our gardening “pallet.”

With aesthetics in mind so the neighbors walking buy could enjoy some summer beauty (we get so many “thank you” comments from the strollers, dog-walkers and power walkers), we built a tiny paradise. To provide food and water for critters – squirrels, crows, mourning doves, starlings, sparrows, wild roaming turkeys, loose dogs and cats, even deer walking up from parkland a few blocks away – we figured out a way to put out several water pans and feeders.

Our “Critter Oasis” even feeds our friends of the night – skunks, raccoons, bats(?) and others – although we do not put out anything that will entice them to start gathering here for food which is not a good idea with some animals. They do like to move pans about to get at the worms and grubs underneath, however, and since we maintain a totally organic approach to our lawn care and gardening, anything here is safe for all!

And Nature? Well, that photo I shared above reminds us that there are always ways around the limitations. As critters and the wind carried sunflower seeds around the area, some fell next to the sidewalk where “Nature took its course” and flowers grew.

So if you are experiencing any limitations open your mind to the possibilities, apply a little patience and sprinkle in some creativity. You may be surprised at what you will come up with – I know I continue to be amazed everyday!