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Friendships are very much like garden clubs. Friendships consist of women with shared interests meeting regularly to cultivate and grow relationships. What happens when weeds form within the "garden?" The weeds spread rapidly, creating a major nuisance. Sometimes, unfortunately, when friendships are causing us more harm than good, they must be weeded out. A true friend only wants to see you bloom. When you are wilting they water you. When you are basking in the sunlight, they are basking in your glow.
Some friends, even those we love dearly, just seem to insist on spreading poison, leaving a barren garden in their wake. What they don't realize, is if they spent half as much time focusing on their own happiness, instead of worrying about everybody else, their life would begin to bloom with endless possibilities.
In the end, we are each responsible for our own happiness. We can be overtaken by weeds or we can grow and flourish. We can choose to eliminate relationships that are harmful when necessary. Ask yourself this, "How does this person make me feel when I'm around them?" A friend should lift you up, not drag you down, stress you out, or put you on the defense constantly.
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Great pictures!!
ReplyDeleteLove from the Netherlands
Patricia
♥
I want to live in this garden home!! The idea of escaping to a place like this is so attractive. Girls will be girls no matter their age...unfortunately. I have a couple of past relationships that I have tried to mend and have just had to resolve that they belong in the past. Sometimes controlling, manipulative people can torment our thought life because we think we did something wrong and just want to fix everything. The loss of friendships is so sad, but I have come to accept that if it is not healthy for me that it is OK to walk away.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that Debby!!!!!!I have a "weed" that was just insistent on being nothing more than a weed, refused to grow and flourish and it was time to weed them out of my life. Hard decision after 22 years of knowing her, but I am much happier. Some people have so many issues of their own, they are only happy if they can "infect" others with their own misery.I wanted no part of it.....and glad I knew to walk away. You are right a garden club is structured like a circle of friends....and I am happy to report this garden club is doing well and full of beautiful healthy blooms!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post Debby! I have am blessed to not have any weeds in my garden (yet)
ReplyDeleteThat 1st shot made me want to walk right through the gate! Love what you've written. I had to weed a friend out last year, best decision I ever made!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thursday hun xoxo
http://www.intotheblonde.com/
Another GREAT post Debby and your pics are amazing....I don't know how you do it!!! I definitely know what you're talking about....people you think are your "friends" but turn out to be "weeds"!!....I hope no one ever thinks of me as a "weed"!!!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!!
Patti
lovely thoughts Debby and gorgeous post (as always of curse!)
ReplyDeleteMy friend, your posts seem so often be just what the universe is wanting me to hear/read!!! :) ... Friends are the flowers of in our life, it is so appropriate how you expressed what it's like when they (friends) become toxic to our environment. Wishing you a weedless garden of friends!! xo C. (HHL)
ReplyDeleteI looooooooooooooovve this style so much.
ReplyDeleteLovely hugs
Molly
GORGEOUS images. I agree with everything you say here. I have a couple of friends that I keep at arms length because of their constant negativity.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thursday.
Teresa
xoxo
Debby,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post and I'm loving all the pops of green everywhere! I agree.. get rid of those weeds! I've had to distance myself from friends many times. The constant negative vibe wears me down and prevents me from having a positive outlook on life.
Leslie
So true! Friendships must always be positive. Yes, we have our ups and downs, but really they are there for good reasons to lift us up.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post, I smiled all through it, when looking at the images. I am so blessed to have so many wonderful lady friends and I must say they do help me bloom. You are so right in your observation, there are friends, those are people that want the best for you and then there are acquaintances, these are people that you enjoy their company around activities and you have some of the same interest. True friends are those that you want to spend time with, doing nothing or something it doesn't matter, they are friends from the heart. I am sure you have friends from the heart, because your sweet spirit will draw them to YOU! xo Kathysue
ReplyDeleteSame path - AS USUAL.
ReplyDeleteMy post today is about feeding the good stuff in your soul.
I have, over the course of the last 10 years or so, continually weeded my friend garden.
I only allow people in my life who are positive and uplifting. "Toxic" people, as I refer to them, can take their rain clouds somewhere else. Not that we don't all have rain clouds coming in and out of our lives, but I know you know what I mean.
You'll love the little story I've got out there today.
I can so relate to this, Debby. It's a painful thing to do but sometimes you just have to cut bait. Gorgeous post and beautiful words! xoxo
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post that struck a chord with me because, you see, I belonged to a garden club at one time, although it was thoroughly modern without the gloves and hats. Your comparison of a garden and friends is spot on. Weed out the toxic and nurture those that feed you body and soul.
ReplyDeleteAlso, what I wouldn't give for a little piece of heaven like that top photo...it's a storybook studio.
Lovely pictures. And your words were very true, friends are a lot like garden clubs.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. Everything always comes together so well on your blog. Your words are so true. Often we place more importance on someone else's feelings, even when they have a negative influence in our lives, than we do on own well-being and happiness. xoxo
ReplyDeleteThis is so true, Debby. There is nothing more precious than a true friend and nothing more distructive and a false one. Loved the pictures.
ReplyDeleteLibby
i want my lake house to have that black screen door and that super cute checked floor
ReplyDeletewhy no, i don't actually own a lake house....
brett
Love all the beautiful garden images. I think you are smart to recognize the weeds and get rid of them right away! There is no room in my life for sour grapes. Ever.
ReplyDeleteI had to walk away from a (best friend) friendship around this time three years ago, and it was only after I did so that I realized how toxic this person really was. Hubs noticed a major difference in me after this person was no longer in my life; I was more happy and didn't have to take on all that stress and drama anymore!
ReplyDeletebeautiful content Deb love popping in to visit. As I age I have gotten to be quite selective in choosing friend. In the past I seemed to acquire user "weeds" who drain my energy.Done with that life is too precious.
ReplyDeletei loved reading this post... and of course was captivated by these GORGEOUS garden images! This last year I have weeded out my garden, and had some toxic "friends". But now that I have chosen to surround myself with those that truly make my garden bloom and grow... life has continued to bloom and grow :) someone once told me that you are like the 5 friends you surround yourself with most.. and it is so true! <3
ReplyDeleteYou are such an amazing writer! I love reading your post every day. They always make me think and they connect me to you in such a special way! I try to surround myself with positive people but sometimes you don't have a choice and it makes life difficult.
ReplyDeleteAlso, love the green checked floor!
Sometimes we all need to do a little weeding in our lives xo
ReplyDeleteI want a Garden House, After i see your pics..
ReplyDeleteKissies
Pinar
Hi, I just happened upon your blog, oh my, what wonderful photos, thanks much for the restful "tour."
ReplyDeleteBarb