A Flea Market Gardening opinion

How do you save garden ideas?  Do you?

I keep a computer file of ideas like many do, but sometimes all these fantastic ideas and projects and gardens are overwhelming. Do you identify with any of these statements and sayings?

“Way too many ideas. I have too many ideas in my head.”
“The Festival of (Too Many) Ideas.”
“Every once in a while my brain goes into overload and I get TOO many ideas.”
“It is possible to have too many ideas.”
“As it turns out, I have too many ideas at the moment”
“In fact, there are too many ideas.”
“Too many ideas, too few resources and time.”
“Too Many Ideas Syndrome”
“Too much reading, too small head, too many ideas, too little time.”
“Having one too many ideas in the land of lost time.”

Too many ideas make my head swim and that is the main reason I can rarely concentrate on books and magazines any more.  Home decorating ideas, gardening ideas, garden art to make and recipes fly in and out of my head furiously,… and friends, …it is not calming.

The thing is, when I see these ideas, I think “I could do this” and I could do that,”…and especially if I have caffeine in my system, I feel wonderful! Anything seems possible!!!

 

Fantastical vs real

 

The true fact is, I can’t do all these things.  That is the reality and I know that seeing, saving, clipping and right-clicking digital images, does not a garden or a life make.  It doesn’t make dinner and it doesn’t create art.

Only the doing does.  And I am human.  I can only do so much in twenty-four hours.  And I have a life!  But,…I can do some things,  and I do do some things.  Those are things that make me happy, that make me hum and causes time to fade away.  The accomplishing.  Those projects actually done, are what gives you self esteem and esteem from others who see your creations.

 

Symptoms of Idea Overload include:

• frustration
• lack of energy
• spending money on supplies to feel like you accomplished something
• insecurity

Taking action makes you feel:

• motivated
• energetic
• confident
• joyful

 

One blogger says of Pinterest: “My problem with Pinterest is that it’s just too much.  Too many ideas, pins, boards, crafts, outfits, recipes, books, tutorials… see I’m already getting overwhelmed! As if my to-do list wasn’t long enough as it is, this … site comes along, sucks me in and gives me a billion more ideas of things “I want” to do.  But that’s the thing, they’re things I want to do but likely won’t EVER do.  Because I don’t have time. “      ‘Sweetie and the Kitchen‘

So, keep your file of ideas, but mind well your use of time,….don’t just be a seer, a passer on and sharer,…also be a doer, a do-bee, an ‘accomplisher’, for that is where the joy is.  ~~ Sue

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the “present.” Oogway, Kung Fu Panda

 

Your voices:

Anonymous: “I have recently retired from the work-a-day world. And I have become overwhelmed with all the to do’s I have saved up over the years. I was going to get a lot of things done this winter before spring and gardening got here. So far I have done very little of what I needed to do. I did make myself not renew any magazine subscriptions because I have tons of magazines that I have been saving to read when I retired. And I have been working on that. I’m trying to go thru 2 or 3 a week and read what I want and clip anything that I really want to save then toss the magazine in the trash.

I spend way to much time on the computer so I am going to set limits for myself and get started on some of these projects. Yard work, gardening, and canning is not that far off. So hopefully when next fall and winter gets here I can get some more of the things done that I should have done this winter. Wish me luck. So I need to get off this computer NOW.”

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Debbie Clark: “Oh do I hear this one!  I don’t know how many times I’ve bought supplies that have sat there waiting for my next purge! Ive felt downright wasteful with the only concession being when I purge it’s to a second hand store and recoup some

of the money spent . As I was telling others on here one day I felt literally junked out! I have since made a vow to be more choosey and last summer I only started projects that I knew I could finish .  Just cluttered out. So oh yes can I relate!”

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Gaile: “While I love all the inspiration that’s online, I know that for me it’s a big huge time vacuum. For example, I thought I’d do an online photography course and maybe some quilting over the winter but instead I spent most of my time looking through gardening blogs and gardening links and online seed catalogues, planning a garden far bigger than what my small space could ever hold.

Pinterest is awesome but if I don’t limit my time we’d surely starve to death because I forget everything when I’m there. Such a modern day dilemma! I still have my favourite books and magazines but have become really good at purging the piles, clipping only the articles that I really want to keep. It’s not easy, but too much stuff tends to make me crazy and I learned long ago that clutter clogs inspiration for me!”

 

Sue Norton: “Well said my gardening friends. I feel just the same. I love the way the pictures on the computer and in the magazines inspire me. Since August I have been recovering from neck surgery after which I suffered a very mild stroke.  Just a little numb in left hand and foot with little vision loss. I do want to thank all of you for contributing to my recovery.

My main man bought me an iPad and there you all were…sisters of the rocks, dirt, and all things old and rusty. I have spent many hours pouring through the pics and articles. This was a great post because I have had a chance to go thru my “gonna do collection”. I look forward to the spring. I have now retired from my workaholic career and plan on completing some projects. Save on my friends. Thank you all dear new friends.”

 

Marie Niemann: “Guilty on all counts! I know it’s so addicting to save the ideas just like it is to save junk!  It piles up and becomes overwhelming at times!  I think this is a great topic. I don’t think I’m a hoarder… YET! But I do enjoy going thrifting and junkin` to buy more! I guess I need a reality check and concentrate on the things that are possible to accomplish and not want to do it all. I ain’t what I used to be! That is true in everything including housework and gardening, harder to do as much in a day. And yes.. I do have a file, actually several files within one of ideas. Oh and Pinterest… yep so much out there!! This is a great article Sue! It’s got me thinking…

 

Myra Glandon: “I am a collector of junk, dreams and ideas!  Possibly even a hoarder of ideas. I love tearing pictures out of magazines that speak to me, right clicking on images at intrigue me, and sometimes I draw inspiration from them. They make me think outside the box sometimes, see things in a way I didn’t before, or like something I didn’t think I would like. I consider myself at least somewhat creative and I need and crave visual stimulation. Being creative energizes me. I have to do it in order to be happy. But yes, sometimes the ideas become overwhelming, and sitting on the computer playing does not help get the laundry done. But oh how I love being inspired by new ideas…”