Saturday, I woke up feeling out of sorts. The change in season always requires me to do a little regrouping. I realized I was in need of grounding and centering.

I had daffodils that needed to be planted so this seemed like as good a time as any to get into the dirt.

If you need to get grounded, running your hands through the earth is probably a really good choice. As I started digging up the flower bed, I found quickly that my path to planted flowers was not going to be without obstacles. Rocks, roots, and clay that’s so prevalent in the Ohio dirt, all were making their presence known.

It didn’t take long before realizing this anchoring project wasn’t going to be easy.

Figuring out how to manage your life experience is a lot like digging up the flower bed. How closely they line up is almost annoying.

It’s like when we say,  “I am going to relax more; start meditating; go to yoga; take time for myself; or whatever self-care plan I have, before long life gets in the way, work makes it more complicated, and there seems like a constant stream of roadblocks that have developed out of thin air.

Just like Saturday, all I wanted to do was dig small holes, put these bulbs in, plant deep enough so they’d be well-rooted and give them enough space so nothing was crowded out.

The goal was pretty simple and straight forward and yet the process was anything but.

Self care and health habits are just as hard to plant because the roots of work, and the trajectory of our lives are like the clay in the dirt that slows our going. Why is it that the weed-like habits take to our lives and our garden with zero effort?

And the good ones need so much care, work, and reinforcement?

I thought about that while I was possibly swearing and digging in the dirt. It occured to me that our poor habits never encounter any resistance so it doesn’t matter how well anchored they are.

Strong roots are not necessary to reinforce poor sleep. Everything in most of our lives encourage that with no effort.

Going through a drive-thru on a whim or letting fear and anxiety have their way with you all require no real effort. They tend to “just happen.”

None of these things requires forethought because the momentum of life is already moving in this direction. But with that also comes virtually no long-term gratification or contentment. When we’re working with things like planning a healthy dinner, having awareness to slow down as evening comes so you can get some good sleep, taking charge of your runaway train requires deep traction.

Sound like a lot of work? Yep, but the payoff is big, too.

Going to work rested changes the entire next day for the better.

Feeding yourself well changes how you feel, how you feel about yourself, and how close you are to your health goals.

Those are big rewards and we care if we reap them.

While I planted on Saturday there were times I thought about quitting and starting again another day. I was frustrated. And it surprised me how much exercise, healthy eating and all the things we are “supposed to do” can make us feel like this.

It’s also a challenge to work hard and not know how it will turn out.  I have to have faith that my effort on the front end will pay off in the long run.

Plant your seeds, plant your positive habits deep, and be patient as you wait for the blooms.