An Unlikely Toast
Park City Gardens Greenhouse
As a mother, and at one time a nurse, it has become easy for me to define nurturing as something I do for others. Whether that be in marriage or motherhood, for creative pursuits or service orientated endeavors, my job or even friendships, the process of caring for others, of encouraging the growth and development of someone or something has always come second nature to me.
The Delta safety brief includes the statement that during emergencies we are to “put on our oxygen mask before helping others.” It feels counterintuitive to my very being, to the person God made me to be. I can’t imagine aiding myself first in an emergency, before my children, even though I know they are the experts and I’m just a passenger. It’s just not instinctive.
Which brings me to a question - can I properly take care for others, to literally breathe life into them, without caring for myself?
Now, more than ever, I’m feeling the need for a shift in habit. With continually packed scheduled, I have become the mom that feels like a chef, a chauffeur, and a coordinator of all the things. Honestly, I’ve never been very good at New Year’s resolutions that have me on a strict exercise regimen. Waking at 5am daily doesn’t work for me either. That sort of goal setting leaves me to crash and burn before January is even over. A few years ago I started goal setting in November as a way to trial habits I was considering changing in the new year. A few months ago I was introduced to the concept of an artist date.
An artist date is a date with yourself. It’s an outing you go on for an hour or two weekly. Arms crossed defiantly you might balk, “I don’t have time for this!” Your creative side argues differently. An artist date should be fun, freeing and maybe a bit frivolous. It should be a solo expedition and one that leaves you enchanted. It is a time to take a deep breath, to live a little, and maybe even feel like a kid again. The slowing down and shifting your perspective helps to see life from a different angle. The result, increased creativity.
I take my artist dates in the same spot almost weekly. In a greenhouse on the edge of town. I sit alone amongst the plants surrounded by their beauty. Sometimes I take a walk through the outdoor gardens weather permitting. I usually stop by after dropping my son off at preschool knowing I have a few hours before picking him back up. I could go grocery shopping instead, or use the time to get in some miles on my favorite trails, or try and tackle the never-ending to-do list we all have. But I try to set those things aside just for a little while. Just for me.
I wanted to lift a glass today and say “cheers” to this space, the Park City Gardens Greenhouse. For inspiring me to place my own oxygen mask on first. For the floral attendant especially, who seems to welcome me in from the cold as a familiar face, while she waters the plants. Who graciously reroutes the plugs to the fountains when I need to charge my laptop. Who seems happy to set down her watering hose to give free advice to the customers who venture in. She knows just what they need. For the plants themselves - there is no better way to fuel creativity than creation itself. In purposely scheduling in free time for myself, time that my brain says I probably shouldn’t take, these artist dates, have helped me find myself again, and I am so so grateful.
