This quote from Mary Oliver, an American poet, has been resonating with me a lot lately. I first read it on Kelsea’s Instagram, and have made two pieces for her pop up shop in Marché Maman.
I’m in a period of transition. I recently chose to leave my job without having anything else lined up, and there have been a lot of ups and downs as I look for whatever’s next. The unknown is uncomfortable, but overall I’m glad I made this move. I’ve been reconsidering what I thought was my expected career path—along with other life stuff.
And with much more time on my hands than I had before, it’s easy to feel like I’m not doing enough—not applying to enough new jobs, going to enough networking events, learning to cook, doing enough cleaning, exercising enough, whatever. And feeling like I’m not doing enough easily translates into feeling like I am not enough.
Which is bullshit.
When you read the full poem, “The Summer Day,” in context, the speaker spends her time outside observing nature before posing this question in the last two lines. It’s not a challenge to do more, it’s a challenge to do less.
So the time I’ve spent turned inward isn’t wasted—in fact it is laying the foundation for future growth. If you want to get all metaphorical, I’m planting seeds now that will grow into a full harvest in another season or two.
If you feel like you need this reminder too, use the contact box for custom orders or visit Marché Maman in Soho.