Let's Reframe: By Degrees

Rootbound

6/12/2020

 
Picture
Rootbound Photo by ERSwett
This
is perhaps
the 100th shrub
I have planted in our yard
during the past decade, and this
tight tangle of roots gets me every time.
Not all plants are so completely
ensnared, but most ​seem
to be at least this
rootbound.
Picture
Sometimes
aggressive action is
necessary because it is
absolutely essential to free the
roots from themselves. If they remain
entangled, the shrub will never
be able to settle into
its new home.
Picture
Earlier
today, when
I held this particular
plant and gently worked to
free ​the roots, I thought of how
hard it has been to liberate myself from
the constraints I created as a result
of ​expectations of all kinds,
some from within &
some from
​family.
Picture
Once
I hit 50, though,
my confidence with clippers
increased significantly in the garden and
in my life. Experience showed me that it really
is OK to cut free some (but not all) roots
in order ​for a plant, or for me,
to grow.
Picture
A plant
will thrive in 
its new home when
its roots are free & it has the
water & nutrients it needs. As I write,
I am increasingly curious about what roots I
may choose to cut so that I can participate fully in
conversations about climate, race & our
nation's structural inequalities
that limit our collective
capacity to
thrive.
Picture
Who knows
what ​beauty will emerge
from this call to dig even deeper?
Marc Morgan
6/22/2020 09:00:33 am

Powerful imagery. These photos create deep thoughts in me. Shalom

Sarah Young
6/22/2020 01:28:45 pm

Lyn,
Your thoughts on being root bound moved me. Being root bound happens slowly over time without much notice until suddenly it seems such a big problem.

Lyn
6/23/2020 02:01:41 pm

Thank you for your comments. I'm glad this imagery and this idea was powerful for you. And you are so right, Sarah, about the slowness of becoming rootbound - - It happens over generations and it can happen over the span of a few years.

ELIZABETH O'HALLORAN
6/26/2020 11:31:46 am

Lyn, As others have said, this metaphor, as well as the about blueberries, are powerful for people of our age and stage. There are a lot of expectations set it the '90's that need a good pruning, and your upbeat approach to doing so is inspiring.


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    Lyn Swett Miller
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