You Start Where you Start

In December I learned a very big lesson about perfectionism.

I am a member of the Maui Orchid Society. It is one of my favorite hobbies to grow orchids. They AMAZE me. Most have no soil to speak of and their roots are just dangling in the air gathering nutrients from the air and water. Most bloom once a year but when it blooms it sure is an amazing show. It is a dance to move them around so subtlely where they get sunlight, but not too much. fine-tuning its habitat so that it can express itself as it is meant to. Really-- I could go on and on about lessons learned here and its parallels to us humans.

It blows my mind! Mother Nature is truly a marvel and teacher.

At each monthly meeting, there is a section for members to showcase their orchids in the categories of Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. So many different colors, sizes, varieties, scents. There are even some that only send out its scent at night to attract moths. I never knew about nighttime work between moths and orchids. 

Then I saw it an orchid submitted by an advanced grower which was quite similar to one of the favorites I had blooming at home. It was lovely and I voted for it. 

I wished though that I would have brought mine to enter as well. I loved my orchid soooo much and it just began to bloom but I thought it was not perfect enough to bring in as I am only a Beginner. ....but they have a beginner category!!!!!! 

Side note: I still had fun at the meeting, learned a lot and did win one new orchid for my ever-growing collection. My favorite part is the collection of people cheering for orchids and collectively oohing and aahing at plants. It is truly a joyful evening.

I was however disappointed and for the remaining month that it bloomed I was filled with regret that I had not just TRIED. Nearly every day was a photo shoot of this orchid of mine and I marveled at how perfect she was in every way. 

My next door neighbor even noticed at how often I kept saying that she could have won if I only entered her. Now please know there is also no monetary prize, no ribbon but you do receive one free orchid as a prize. It wasn't even about that but it was the fact that I simply didn't enter her to see just for fun what would have happened. I didn't think it was good enough. *big gasp 

Through this experience, I learned that and will admit to the fact that I have been paralyzed by the belief that everything I do must be perfect. I really took some time with this lesson and applied it to many aspects of my life.

Admittedly I have had a bit of fear that the magic I see here at Unicorn Square is not good enough to share with you.  That the expressions of nature I observe, messages I receive, and lessons I learn here are silly. At the same time, I am conflicted as I feel selfish for not sharing them I have a bookshelf full of notebooks of stories, adventures, and lessons I have learned here at Unicorn Square. 

Last year I wanted to learn the Hawaiian language and I was not sure where to start and a dear friend of mine said "You start where you start" I am applying that to Unicorn Square.  As it turns out I have many stories to tell and my favorite way to tell them is verbal, therefore, I am launching a podcast "Unicorn Square Stories" I am very excited to share it with you! 

And yes, should one of my orchids be blooming for our next orchid society meeting I will bring it with me just for fun and enter her in the beginner category.

Side note: There is a difference between perfectionism and learning. I have some tutorials to watch this week before I figure out how to launch the podcast..... oh this is going to be fun.