Surround Yourself

 

When you read those words, what came to mind? Was it visions of lush greenery in an open field? Soft lamps and candles lighting the indoors? Blankets piled on a soft couch? A bunch of ingredients that you are putting together for dinner. What do you surround yourself with? Who do you surround yourself with? 

I've been thinking about this. When we were in California, we were surrounded by others who were on vacation, happy to wake up each morning looking forward to a day of adventure and promise. We were surrounded by beautiful rolling rocky hills with various trees growing here and there. All of it brought out another part of us - a part that hadn't been before. We were surrounded by fields of vines upon vines, some old and gnarly and some thin and tallish. And mustard flowers, believe it or not. They say the Jesuits brought the mustard to the Napa and Sonoma Valleys and sprinkled them around. The mustard enriches the grapes grown for wine, so they still grow it. Every row of grapes has a row of mustard flowers growing between them. The mustard surrounds the grape crops and nourishes the soil in which the grapes are grown. This was prime mustard season and the orange and yellow, some fluorescent yellow, flowers were in full bloom. Rather than harvesting the mustard, it is mowed down and goes back into the soil. Each nutrient turns into something different - some acid or chemical that in turn gives the wine flavors of cinnamon, cardamom, apple, pear, and berries, making the wine into something a bit different each year or season. 

Who and what we surround ourselves with matters. The nutrients in the mustard are like the nutrients we gather from our friends. They enrich our lives and bring out various flavors of what's already inside us. It matters. 

I am always struck by classrooms with the shades pulled down to the bottom. No light, no sun, no visuals of the outside can get in. I guess we don't want distraction? Or stimulation? But we need those things. We need to be surrounded with the sky, the sun, the trees, the playground. If there's one thing I realized while away it was how important it is to be in nature. Otherwise what is in us cannot grow to its potential. Our flavors won't ring true. 

I wish for you today to be surrounded. Be surrounded by what gives you nourishment. Whether it's a pile of books, a bunch of kids, a warm fireplace, a friend's laughter. (I guess I'm saying that because it's raining outside my window right now.) Even better, be outside and surrounded by nature. Whatever it is, I hope you surround yourself.