When a house is built, there are many people involved. Each of them has their specialty, their trade that they bring to this construction event. In all, there are those who are responsible for the initial excavation, then the foundation, the framing, the roofing, the windows and doors, drywall hanging, interior trim, plumbing, electrical, tile work and carpeting, to name many of the individual trades involved. As a landscape contractor, my work came last, after the structure was pretty much complete. Yet, my work has had a great deal of importance, for the landscape not only represents an accent and external beauty, it offers a continuation of the living environment to include the out of doors.
The landscape work that I have done, the environments that I have co-created, has served both myself and my clients well. Many, many times I have done my best to build landscapes that people would “…enjoy spending time in”. Yet, I cannot claim that I designed and built these environments all by myself. Aside from other contractors involved (again, bringing their own trades to these creations), I humbly recognize that a much higher power has blessed me with the ability to use my connection with the Earth and Spirit to bring these landscapes to bear, and worked with me to co-create. As well, the landscape work that I have done has enabled me to keep a certain flow to my own spiritual connection to the Trees and Mother Nature.
I must say, however, an evolution has been occurring, over recent years, to where I no longer find myself in a position to truly create the kind of landscape environments that I became accustomed to being able to offer my clients. While I would very much like the opportunity to create possibly just one more such landscape, I feel that may no longer be in the cards. Alas, the landscape work I am now involved with is not of the creative nature and caliber of what I have enjoyed. Yet, this does not distress me. I feel that I am gradually being directed to another type of work that will benefit people in a different way. My connection with the Trees and Earth is continually evolving and becoming stronger than I have ever known it to be.
This is a different way of being than what I have been accustomed to for so many years of this lifetime. Indeed, I feel I am being invited to let go of that which has served me and so many for so long. It’s a sort of goodbye of sorts. This is very difficult. Yet, it seems necessary. In fact, it feels like I am returning to not only the feelings that ran through me as a child, but all that is good from past lives. While I welcome this transition, it doesn’t come easily, nor without a certain amount of trepidation. I’ve spent so many years as a landscaper, and it being a constant and “fall back”, that the letting go is most difficult.
I’m going to allow this writing to serve as my giving notice to the Universe that I am ready to take on my next role, whatever exactly that may be, though I know it is a role that has lived within me for lifetimes and through this one as well. Let the winds of change come. I accept and am ready to let go of what I must.
Peter J Quandt