16 Years

It has been a very long time since I have written.  I have missed it.  In another life,  I would perhaps have followed my aspirations to become a professional writer.  That being said, I feel like sharing my story of mental illness and addiction is an important one and I will do my best to make this blog more of a priority moving forward..

I have finished another landscaping season.  I joined on with my current company two years a go and it has made a world of difference for me.  It has been a really good fit for Jodi and I and I hope to continue with them as long as they will have me.  It was one of my best seasons.  A big part of the success this year has a lot to do with where I am at as a person.  I have never had such mental stability in my life up until these last few years.  I finally have a sense of peace and tranquility within.  I still have a long ways to go in becoming the person I want to be but, I am very pleased with where I am at right now.  

I celebrated 16 years sober on November 2nd.  Sobriety has enabled me practice intentional thinking with a clear mind.  I appreciate my sobriety even more now that I am no longer gambling. I think in the past I would use my sobriety to mask my gambling addiction and made justifications for gambling in my illogical mind based on being sober.  I would never tell someone how to live their lives as that would be hypocritical in many ways.  I just know that sobriety has changed me from within and has helped lessen the shame and guilt of the past I carried for so many years.

As winter approaches,  it is often a good time to look ahead and planning your own landscape for the following season.  Tree work can be done all winter really and may be something to consider in the next few months.  I find from my experience that residential and commercial properties often have a reactionary approach to trees instead of a preventative one.  There are so many ways to prevent or limit potential damage with a variety of trees.  Pruning, cabling or even removal are often necessary to limit the safety risks of tree damage to property and/or people themselves.  Do some research of your own if you decide to get the help of an arborist this winter.  Read reviews and talk to people who have used them.  There are a lot of great arborist companies out there that can help you make informed decisions about potential risks for the trees on your property.  The last thing I will mention about trees is a big pet peeve of mine.  I firmly believe that the canopy of most trees belongs in the air and not in the ground.  I see so many trees driving around with lower branches 3 or 4 feet off the ground.  Not only would limbing these up make it easier for when you cut the grass,  it makes a huge difference aesthetically when things are opened up.

There is a lot going on the world right now and it can seem overwhelming at times.  In the story I see, kindness and generosity wins.  I have to believe that the goodness within humanity will prevail in the end.

Bye for now. 

Take care

Shawn

 

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul

And sings the tune without the words

And never stops at all.

― Emily Dickinson