Tending Your Garden of People

The other day I had a major falling out with my boss at work. After the anger had subsided, I realized more than anything that I was truly disappointed in him. I started to process these feelings and it became very clear to me when I started to compare these feelings with how I feel about one of my loves, gardening!

The people at work are like the plants in a garden. The need to be cared for in general, but also in unique ways. Like a garden, the office needs to be tended, with everyone shown respect and kindness...rewarded for doing a great job. Each person, like each plant, needs to be nurtured, given the tools and knowledge to grow, to blossom, to thrive, to continue on for many many years.

My boss is a motivation speaker, specializing in conflict resolution and employee relations...he is out tending other people's gardens while neglecting his own...some of the plants have turned into noxious and unruly weeds, some have died and been removed, and others are struggling to survive, dying on the vine, failing to bloom or even grow.

It might be that he has poisoned the soil so much that if I am to survive, I will have to take up my roots and move on to a healthier, well-tended garden...even if he puts some fertilizer on now, it is probably too late and only a temporary measure, because in his heart, he is not really a gardener like he thinks he is...

Maybe his strong suit is to tell others how to garden...sad, but it happens all the time...others will be amazed at how beautiful and strong their gardens get while his withers away, to be blown to dust and emptiness soon.

Streetsboro, Ohio

This weekend I drove to Streetsboro, Ohio to meet up with my sister. She was driving halfway from her home with our mother, so that I could take her back home after a 10 day visit.

I have traveled all over the world and yet, it is in the USA that I am the most afraid and apprehensive when I travel....especially to smaller towns and cities...I fear that even though we think that prejudice and small mindness is on the down swing, You Tube videos made by young people still show bigotry and hatred against non-white people. Being Asian used to mean that you could sort of blend in and just mind your own business, but now, with the advent of the tsunami and radiation problems in Japan, we are on the forefront of people's awareness.

So, when I went to Streetsboro, I was sort of expecting some stares and comments, some from curiosity, and some from just plain meanness...boy, was I pleasantly surprised! First of all, everyone we met was kind and warm...friendly and helpful! At restaurants, there were tables of people that had mixed raced children--grandparents and grandchildren in all colors...there was laughter and hugs...lots of love and happiness.

Today, I just wanted to thank the people of this midwestern little town for renewing my belief that most people are good in their hearts...they accept that the world is changing and that all people want the same things and we have to be here for each other...

Streetsboro, Ohio---you rock!