
Star Jasmine on bamboo trellis
My little Star Jasmine creeper is cautiously finding its way along the trellis. It hasn’t bolted quite as I expected, but is making slow and steady progress. Near the gate, the delicate, waxy Hoya is climbing up the inside of my garden wall despite the sign on the other side prohibiting it. Plants aren’t easily discouraged by human vanities, no matter how polite.
It got me thinking about the nature of plants to ‘reach’.
On my morning walk I turned the idea over in my thoughts. Everywhere I looked plants were aspiring to be somewhere else, something bigger, something better than they already were. The ground-covers reached out laterally. The lofty palms waved high above me. Huge Norfolk Island pines in the cemetery soared many metres above the headstones, while beneath the ground, their roots sought purchase, diving deep to support the towering growth above. But why? What drove this ‘rush to reach’?
The obvious answer is their will to live, to proliferate. It is in their nature to reach. They reach for what it takes to sustain and reproduce life. But sometimes the obvious isn’t always that obvious when you delve into it.
Despite all manner of vicissitudes, plants keep on striving to fulfil their inner code, their destiny. We hack them back, plant them in impossible places, deprive them of enough light, water and sustenance of soil – but still they persist.
What I learnt from plants is this: we all reach out to sustain life, to survive. Together with the instinct to procreate, it’s one of two of our most basic instincts. But is that enough, to just survive?
Can we, like plants, grow around and through the obstructions in our lives; thrive despite not having ideal conditions, or even because of their absence, to be the best possible versions of us?
For this to happen, I need to embrace an important difference between the notions of ‘reach’ and ‘aspire’. I cannot not just ‘reach’ to sustain life, but rather, I must ‘aspire’ to really live it. I must breathe life into my goals by making considered, mindful choices, if I am to grow to greater heights and not just survive.
“You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way!”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!
(əˈspaɪə)
vb (intr)
lovely photos Robyn. When we stop having goals for growth , that is when we deteriorate. The oldest active people I know , still have goals. keep on aspiring.
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Good to hear Brenda. And I believe you’re right about having goals to aspire to. It’s crucial no matter how old we are.
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Once your star jasmine gets established you’ll see its aspirations to take over the garden. And thanks for reminding me of the Dr Seuss quote. A cousin gave that book to our daughter as an 18th birthday present. Some years later, I was asked to choose a poem to read at my nephew’s wedding and couldn’t think of anything better than that!
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Ha ha! Thanks for the warning. I have found this one less invasive than the Chinese jasmine. I’m glad Dr Seuss brought back good memories. His wisdom is profound albeit wrapped in catchy rhyme. Thanks for your thoughts.
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Wise as always Robyn. Love that book.
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So many people have fond memories of that book K.
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Plants are amazing. Give one the tiniest crack in the sidewalk and before you know it, up it sprouts.
The sign amused me, by the way. It reminded me of the “No Smoking” ones you used to be able to see separating the smoking and non smoking areas in many restaurants. I think the idea was that the smoke would read it and good manners would prevent it going any further.
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Hah ha! You’re right! Same on aircraft, I mean, really! Plants or smoke that read signs? Give me a break!
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Beautiful pictures Robyn and always insightful observations!
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Thank you Lyn. Glad to return the favour.
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🙂 very nice Robyn
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Pretty pictures. Did you make the bamboo trellis? As a bamboo fan I love it!! I knew this was going to be a good post when you began talking about how plant life reaches. So motivating!!
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No, the trellis is a purchased one but I did wonder about making my own. It would be satisfying I think. I had to get my brother-in-law to drill the holes in the brick wall for me. I can turn my hand to most things but the strength needed to do this was a bit beyond me. My garden motivates me – in fact nature is full of inspiration isn’t it? Enjoy your day Steph.
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I admire gardens and the people who tend them. I think I may have mentioned that I’m pretty handy at killing artificial plants (it’s just not one of my gifts). I’ve managed to kill cactus and bamboo. I know there were other plants, I can’t recall what they were but I’ve resolved to admire them in the capable hands of others.
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Well, I have to admire the talents of anyone that can kill artificial plants! You have other gifts too – more creative ones. : )
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Hahaha I never thought of it that way. Thank you for the kind compliment 😀
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If you don’t like what you’re looking at, turn it around until you do. My nanna.
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Wise woman, your nanna.
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Robyn, I needed this post tonight to put some clarity into my world. Reaching and aspiring. I sometime get very discouraged when I turn on the news lately and see our politicians aspiring to become the leaders of our country, when they should be aspiring to be better people. It makes me so sad to see what we have become here in the US and even sadder still to realize this is being played out in the media for all to see. It crushes me. The soil it is creating is not a sustainable or nurturing soil. It truly crushes me.
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Dear Clare, I wish I could give you a big hug. I feel your anguish, truly I do. I have been watching events in the US on the news. Of course the media picks up the sordid and the sensational, sadly that is what their audience demands so we can’t blame them entirely. Even so, I fervently hope that Donald Trump does not get selected. My instincts and indeed his own words condemn him. Unfortunately his appeal is based on a lie. People hear what they want to hear. I know little of the other candidates. You put it so eloquently when you said rather than aspiring to be leaders they should aspire to be better people. (loud applause).
Politics in Australia disappoint me. People seem un-engaged and complacent. We all complain but I believe we get the politicians we deserve largely. I must admit the whole thing turns me off so I guess I’m part of the problem.
I’m glad you found some comfort in my post.
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We are a country of people who need to be entertained constantly and the entertainment of choice are god-awful reality shows. And now the entire political arena has turned into a god-awful reality show. A good, wise, caring, intelligent, truthful person doesn’t stand a chance at becoming president! Nor would he/she even aspire to it because politics has become so tainted. Thanks, Robyn. Now back to my murder mystery!
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At least writing lets you choose the ending!
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Yes, it does. Could explain why I jumped from children’s books to a murder mystery series??????
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Mm that’s a whole other quandary if we’re looking through a psychological lens.
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Oh, The Horror! I just finished the first complete edit of the book a few minutes ago and am feeling much better now. Craziness is temporarily at bay!
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Great work! It’s a good feeling knowing the first draft makes some sense and isn’t absolute nonsense as one might have been lying awake imagining. Will it be an e-book? I’m looking forward to reading it.
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I am at sea about what to do with it. I think it’s good enough to submit to a publishing company but am well aware of the time it would take to get it published along that route. So, I’m thinking of self-publishing once again and then trying to get an agent to sell the series. Then the book could be out by this summer. And, yes, this time I will have it be both an e-book and a hardcopy. Thanks, Robyn. Encouragement much appreciated.
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To self publish or go down the traditional route – that is the question isn’t it? I wish you luck whichever way you choose and look forward to seeing it out in print and on screen. Probably the latter for me.
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🎥📽 Very high hopes!
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Aspire is a beautiful word. It carries a soft strength, something deeper and rounder than ‘reach’. Aspire has a quality of going inwards in order to move outwards. A thoughtful post Robyn.
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I agree. Like a sighing breath. Thanks Gail 😀
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Just beautiful, Rob. You inspire me!
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So kind Meg. I always hope my inner fumblings are of some use
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Thanks for this post, Robyn. I always enjoy visiting your garden and reading your thoughts on the power of nature.
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I love the contemplation gardening requires. That others enjoy my thoughts on the subject is a bonus. Thanks for visiting Gina.
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