While shopping at Costco in September, I came across bag after bag of spring bulbs, tulips, daffodils, iris and grape hyacinths. As soon as I saw them, I wanted everything! In my mind’s eye, I could see the yellow daffodils and pink and purple tulips blooming in my yard. I picked out a bag of daffodils and a bag of tulips. Costco sells big bags and so I had about 140 bulbs to plant. September was busy, I was out of town most of the month. I decided to plant them in October. October was cold and rainy and just as busy as September and I didn’t really want to go outside to dig and plant, but I still wanted those waves of daffodils and tulips that I could see blooming in my imagination. I checked the weather report and was happily surprised to see a full week of sunny weather. 140 bulbs is a lot of planting. I thought I would break it into pieces and plant a little each day for a week. Monday was great, I planted all the pots on my back deck and enjoyed the afternoon sunshine. Tuesday was good too, I planted the pots in the front yard. Wednesday was OK, I removed annuals and planted bulbs in their place. Thursday I got busy and distracted, and my back hurt, so I didn’t go out. Friday I went out but didn’t get much done, I was tired and since I had done all the easy stuff, digging holes was all that was left. I asked my husband if he could help me finish up Saturday afternoon and he agreed. He was busy Saturday afternoon when I gathered up my planting supplies and went outside. I was kneeling in the dirt, digging 5” holes when he came out to help. He dug the remaining holes and I mixed in fertilizer, potting soil and the bulbs, then we filled in around them. Later that afternoon, I stood on my front steps and looked at the yard. Nobody but my husband and I could have seen how much work we did that afternoon – there was no evidence of the 140 or so bulbs that we planted. But I can see clear as day what they will look like in March and April. They are blooming in my imagination now and everyone else will see them in the spring.
A few years ago, I started working with a life coach who taught me a new way to see myself. She helped me see a vision of what my future self could look like. I was struggling with what I wanted to do with my life now that my children and grandchild weren’t living with us, my parents had recently passed away, and my husband and kids had stopped attending the church we had built our lives around. I felt tired and worn out, my body hurt, I had aches and pains that I couldn’t figure out. My life was not turning out how I thought it should and I couldn’t see a joyful future for myself. With help from my coach and a lot of hard work myself, I learned how to visualize and create a new and beautiful future. I had to believe it was possible and see it in my mind’s eye, just the way I could see the tulips and daffodils in my yard. Then I had to go to work with all the tools that I had learned and create that vision. Some days were easy and others were really hard, and sometimes I needed a little help. Gradually I could tell that I was making a difference in myself. At that point nobody could see all my hard work but me, but I could tell it was happening. Now, three and a half years later, I am blooming. I have lost weight, I feel amazing – younger than I have in years and I have lots of energy. My relationship with my husband and kids have never been better and I have become a life coach myself. I am helping other women visualize their future. It all started by believing that nothing had gone wrong with my life, that I have power to create my own future and it can be what I want it to be. I can choose the life I want. I am a life coach who helps empty nest LDS women envision and create their own beautiful futures, just like I did. My 12-week program helps you develop your relationships with yourself, with your Heavenly Father, and with your spouse, kids, friends and church family. Reach out to me today and we can schedule a FREE 50 minute consult – I can help you see a vision of your future.
