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Overwhelmed, confused and a little excited (plus the Flying Scotman)
Dear <<First Name>>,
 
If mention of the Flying Scotsman had you opening this newsletter today then, whilst I’d love you to read the rest of my newsletter, just scroll to the bottom of the email and you’ll find a very popular video of the Flying Scotsman taken as it went past my house the other week. (For anyone who loves this then I promise to keep an eye out for the Tornado and Aberdonian as they do pay a visit most years during the summer).
Working from home has it’s benefits as this is the first year I’ve felt able to grow vegetables knowing I’d be here to water them. Although they’re not needing that much watering with all the rain we’re having at the moment here in Fife!
 
As my head is full of all things gardening this newsletter is going to share insight from the overwhelm, confusion and excitement of growing vegetables that can be applied to situations in your life you’d like more insight on.
 
The reason I love using metaphor so much in order to gain this insight is that you’re not inviting your logical mind to replay what it thinks the answer is. Nor are you continuing to focus on what’s not possible. Metaphor opens up your thinking to allow your inner wisdom to help you notice patterns that may shed light on new perspectives, new opportunities, and new solutions.
 
Before reading further, therefore, think of a situation you’d like more insight on and then put it to the back of your mind as you read more about my vegetable growing queries and insights.
Outsourcing

The raised beds were very late in being built and so it was mid June before I even thought about growing vegetables.
 
This meant it was much too late to grow my own vegetables from seed. So, rather than wait another year, I went along to the garden centre and bought some plants they’d already sown and grown a little.
 
The above image was a week after planting.
 
I know it’s great to do all the work yourself and yet I wonder - where might it be helpful for you to ask for help so that you can get the task in hand started rather than wait another year?
How do I know when they’re ready?
 
When I looked yesterday I realised that I had no idea when to pick the spinach leaves!
 
What do you think - are these ready for picking?


I’m laughing at how much this resonates for me – constantly questioning whether a blog, poem or keynote is finished yet!
 
This spinach certainly looks big enough to me compared to the shop bought spinach. I suspect, like a lot of herbs and vegetables, if it gets much bigger it will get bitter!
 
I certainly love the idea of not aiming for a perfect newsletter or post to avoid it turning bitter through over work!
 
Where do you need to tell yourself “enough is enough”?
Who is eating my cabbage leaves?

I didn’t do enough reading about how to protect my brassicas so currently all my cabbage plants look like this one after a nibble from what I assume is the aptly named Cabbage white butterfly caterpillar! Insects can certainly be friends or enemies of the gardener.
 
It’s perhaps worth doing some research first, therefore, to find out what will help or hinder your personal flourishing when setting off out on a new adventure.
 
On Thursday 8th July at 1930 BST (yes this week) I’m delivering a free webinar sharing insight from having a garden buzzing with bees and applying it to having a buzzing life.
 
It’s free - with donations, if you get value from the session, being requested for SCOTLAND: The Big Picture for whom I’m a corporate partner.
What's wrong with my leeks?

Oh dear I'm not sure my leeks have grown since I planted them!

I’m laughing, yes again, because having just looked up on the www I have discovered I shouldn’t be expecting to see much growth yet because they take 25-40 weeks to grow, and even then all the action is happening underground!
 
Oh yes, that old chestnut of needing to allow new ideas time to percolate, to grow and not keep prodding them for fear that they’re not growing.
 
All that prodding will actually kill them!
 
Where do you need to have a little more faith and trust there’s stuff happening that you can’t see – yet!
At least the runner beans are looking good 

I can’t tell you how excited I am at seeing the tendrils of the runner beans wrapping themselves around the canes.
 
A kitchen gadget vlog I shared the other week might give the game away that I LOVE runner beans, and therefore of course would know the perfect gadget for destringing and slicing them.
I suspect that’s why consultants, coaches, trainers and speakers are invited to identify their niche because when you have passion for something you’ll find out all about how to do it well.
 
What’s your expertise in the current situation, and how can you use that to uncover currently hidden perspectives? Or perhaps its about using the expertise of someone else?
 
In my recent post on the subject I shared that my expertise/niche was:
  • Thinking differently and using unconventional tools to do this
  • Helping you to uncover options and different perspectives about situations – especially when you don't think there are any
  • Helping you get unstuck and back on track
If you know anyone who would benefit from this expertise do please let them know.
I’ve also recently realised my niche means I’m a great associate for other consultants, trainers and coaches who may value my expertise for 1-2 hours of a longer programme they’re delivering.
 
How do I ensure I have fabulous compost?
 
I didn’t think you needed a picture of this one 😉.
 
I’ve started a compost heap, and have discovered that for it to deliver gorgeous compost that can be used to help future plants flourish that it needs:
 
  • A mix of brown and green ingredients
  • Not to be too dry or too wet
  • To be turned regularly
  • Air within it – usually provided by cardboard
  • Excluding certain items to avoid smells and other problems
 
Which are all great tips for our own continuous improvement:
 
  • Don’t rely on your own feedback only - ask for feedback from others too.
  • Don’t start to analyse the minute you’ve finished working on something, and don’t wait for months to assess what worked and what didn’t.
  • Get into the habit of asking for feedback regularly – it will be much easier to see a pattern emerging that you need to change or do less or more of.
  • Breathe and give the feedback time to digest – don’t spend every minute dissecting what someone said the minute it’s given to you
  • Don’t only focus on what went wrong
 
What insight can you take from your garden, park, local tree or house plant to help you find new perspectives to a situation you’re grappling with?
 
If you know of anyone who doesn’t know what to do next, or perhaps feels like they’re going round in circles, are stuck in a rut, or can’t see the wood for the trees please do let them know about the 2 day virtual paths & destinations retreat that’s coming up on 28/29 July. It’s at a special offer of £497 + VAT and will certainly help them get back on track. You’ll find more details here or ask them to call me to find out whether it would be just what they need +44(0)7770 538159
 
As ever 1:1 coaching and the fabulous Transformation games are available if you’re at a crossroads and would like to spend some time assessing and uncovering the options available to you.
 
Much love
Alison xx
 
You can catch up with all the newsletters from the archives here.
 
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