I’m noticing that I am taking some things too seriously. Lately one of these has been what’s happening to my tomatoes. I bought eight tomato plants in May, planted them in my garden, and have watered them every day since. But as tomatoes began to ripen on the plants, my garden became the #1 shopping place for squirrels. They have seen to it that for every tomato Paul gets, the squirrels get four or five.
Frustrating? Absolutely! I’ve looked forward to garden-grown tomatoes in my salad and on my sandwiches for months. I paid for the plants and did the work…AND THE SQUIRRELS EAT THEM AS SOON AS THEY RIPEN!!
My blood pressure was rising daily until I read the following on a neighborhood website:
Attention Deer: Last Call on my hostas
To all the deer in our neighborhood you have until 2:30 a.m. tomorrow morning to eat all my hostas. I’ve extended the deadline because I know some of you like to come by late. All are welcome and you can spread the word to your friends. This offer is for my yard only and please do not munch, crunch or eat loudly, as I’m trying to do my part in cutting down the noise pollution in our neighborhood. To be a good host, I will put music on for your feast. I will be playing an endless loop of “Closing Time” by Dan Wilson. For your entertainment, if you end up singing along to this song, you can replace any alcohol references in the song with the word “hosta” and the song still works.
Lastly, you and your friends are to stop ripping up Anne’s plants. You know after reviewing 75 posts in her thread that she doesn’t want you in her yard so play nice. If you read far enough, you’ll see that she’s lived there most of her life so leave her and her plants alone. Yes, it’s a bit of a walk from her place to mine but believe me you’ll feel better about yourself in the morning.
Please invite all large bucks, especially any with odd or unusual drop tines. I just love seeing those. If you miss my “last call” deadline, you are still invited over but be prepared to only be offered mixed greens at that point.
So, I’m starting to lighten up. I experience so many blessings each day that I’m willing to share some of my tomatoes with other critters who live on the same planet as I do. Now, whenever I see a squirrel, it reminds me to lighten up in other areas of my life as well. I guess I have a reason to be grateful to the squirrels that are feasting in my garden.
Can you think of areas in your life where you need to lighten up?
From our Top 20 team…Kevin Brennan, Willow Sweeney, and Tom Cody…who take lightening up seriously.
Paul Bernabei
Director
Top 20 Training
paul@top20training.com
