Guidance in the Garden...

Hello my fellow readers and dog friends. BOL Yes, it's your favorite golden boy Trevor, aka T Man bringing you this month's planted blog post. As you know, I like to dig for bones, so planting isn't really my thing, but for Brenda, I will do anything. BOL 

I will be your guide for this planting session. Brenda actually came up with this idea today and asked if I would be kind enough to have my paws hit the keyboard for this planted blog post. 

We are going to be exploring friendships. They can be complex and tricky and at the same time, wonderful and blessings beyond measure. Most of Brenda's friends in her close-knit circle read this blog, so let me be your personal guide, as we enter the garden of friendship.

As we start this tour, allow me to walk you down the path of kindness and understanding. These are 2 great qualities of a friendship. There are some individuals that you instantly seem to hit it off with. It can be the fact that you have things in common. You may like the same type of music or you enjoy reading. It's fun to share your interests and also see what that friend likes as well. 

Some friendships are developed through having gone through the loss of a loved one. You have that one thing in common that is relatable. Even though it's not the same for every person, you can still have that common ground and be able to build a foundation. 

Brenda created this blog almost 2 years ago in memory of her best friend in life, her mother. They had a special relationship as mother and daughter. Brenda realizes the blessing this was, for the time her mother was on this earth. She was Brenda's caregiver after her craniotomy and that first year, things were strained at times. Brenda was getting used to her new normal and dealing with a personality change. It was tense at times, but her mother remained kind and understanding. 

When Brenda lost her mother in 2011, it was a whole different path. It was once again empty and she needed to allow herself to grieve and at the same time, honor her mother's memory. Brenda strives to do that every day. 

Her close friends mean the world to her. Probably the best gift you can give a friend is being totally honest and real. It may not be what that person wants to hear, but you have to realize that the friend who is conveying the message, cares about you and wouldn't even consider taking the time by being gentle and kind, if they didn't. 

Brenda has a soft heart and is much more sensitive since having gone through this brain tumor experience, almost 16 years ago. In fact, her 16th Craniversary is a month from yesterday. Back to Brenda's soft heart, that does not mean that she isn't tough. She has been through so much in her life, but she keeps fighting. I will be sharing her new poem at the end of this planted blog post. Some of you have already seen it, but I think it's a real testament to anyone who may be fighting their own private battle. Not everything is visible and like the poem describes, we all face an invisible opponent at one time or another. 

Brenda wants to be able to show you how much she cares for you too. She loves to laugh and joke around, but she also has a serious side. She enjoys having deep intellectual conversations. When I think of deep, digging comes to mind. BOL 

We all need guidance at one time or another. It doesn't mean we don't know what we are doing, but rather a way of being shown a path that can be beneficial in cultivating those friendships in our close-knit circle. 

We've been concentrating mainly on friends who are close or have things in common with. Individuals that we cross paths with on a daily basis, can also be beneficial in guiding us with kindness and understanding. 

We hope you've enjoyed this special planted blog post. Thanks for allowing me to be your guide, down this wonderful path of friendship. 

Until next time, KEEP BLOOMING! 

Golden Hugs,

~Trevor Barking Off~ 💛