That We Do Not Leave a Trace

There is a path that I have traveled many times out my back door. 

It was created when I first received a gift from someone who taught me how to make room for more, including big and little plants that needed to be transplanted. 

Who knew that plants could be transplanted? Not me until I was shown more. 

This mentor showed me how to divide beautiful blooms, 

dig deep to gather the roots in a wide circle to include their strength and 

share what I had learned with one more person when the time was right. 

“We never touch a person so lightly that we do not leave a trace”

It was only recently that I realized she also was teaching me about the quote from Peggy Talbot Millin that says 

“We never touch another person so lightly that we do not leave a trace” 

The far-reaching truth of this is sitting in my heart and bringing soft emotions of gratitude now. 

Another person is indeed the one who has touched me with grace, kindness, warmth and patience for years.

This person who became my mentor took time to teach and guide. 

Gratitude for my mentor who showed me how to create and dig deep is also the one who listened and laughed with me as grief began to surface in everyday life. 

This person is how I continue to follow the path before me with blooms that have increased from the first ones given to me years ago. 

You’ll see them here. 

The purple one with soft, broad leaves reminds me of the kindness shown to me as the plant spreads across the flower bed. 

One season at a time, carefully tended and nurtured as it grows. 

The roots have taken hold in one space then gathering more strength each year. 

It was a regeneration of energy every time. 

Increased how the touch of gratitude for my friend as grown

Being able to watch how more of the broad leaves show up over time has also increased how the touch of gratitude for my friend and mentor has grown. 

I have come to realize that she was a mentor to many. 

That she divided and transplanted plants such as these for others.

I love that she shared her joy of life with countless friends! 

Giving the tools to gather roots and share for years to come. 

She touched the world for good and left a trace that is still sending ripples.

She touched the world for good and left a trace that is still sending ripples beyond her reach. 

Her path of life was broad and colorful. 

Does this remind you of the life you lead? 

If I take a look along the path out my back door, I can see other plants that came to me at the same time. 

It is when I pause to look at each one that I see what comes next. 

Surprisingly, what came next had very little to do with plants and more to do with life. 

Life brought a pause after the purple plant was in place along the path. 

Pause came as I began to dig deeper. 

Their incredible trace of goodness, kindness and hopefulness was with me.

It was as if I had been touched so lightly by many people and now their incredible trace of goodness, kindness and hopefulness was with me. 

The circle of growth that came in this renewing pause was alongside other friends, mentors and inside the backdoor. 

Life became a time to let the roots rest. 

Gentle gifts of guidance came as grief encircled our life, yet blooms of joy were gathered as well. 

Friends bloomed along the way, leaving their trace with me.

Showing me when to share what I have learned with others around me.

It is what I now know as grief, love, joy and compassion stays while I watch the plants lovingly transplanted from my friend. 

You can think about what is on your path as we go along together.