This is the Sumac harvest. Unfortunately that’s all it is, a harvest. I’m a bit overwhelmed with life right now. Shortly before Christmas i tried to process the harvest. I spent hours picking berries off of branches until my fingers were raw and cut up. Pressing them against anything made them feel like there was a ton of pressure built up under each nail. I kept putting it off and putting it off and meanwhile the berries sat either in the shed or the house depending on whether the temperature was freezing outside. Earlier this year i spoke to a therapist i call on occasions when something big is happening and i need to work through it. She had me explore the idea of not processing the sumac for a couple years while i go to school…leave it for the birds. She asked what was the worst thing that would happen if i opened the door right now and just chucked the berries out into the yard. On some level i realized she was right. I am overwhelmed. I need to stop putting non essential tasks on my plate. However, some part of me is holding out hope that i will get it together and process the sumac later. So i continue to keep it in this little metal tub and perhaps during the next semester break i will dig a hole for the potted fig tree, a hole for the potted pecan tree and then process all the sumac. You never know. I could get motivated.
You are motivated! You are motivated to improve your situation. You are being healthy to realize you can’t do everything! I know it feels disappointing when you can’t do everything you want to do, but focusing on the important things and getting them done is the best thing you can do for you. I speak from a lifetime of experience. Take care of yourself, do the big important things first, then do the stuff you can fit in.