The other day I read a story about a "Daffodil
Garden" that gave me some tremendous insight into how some people
always seem to accomplish so much with the time they have, while others
are confused, stressed out and never seem to have enough time to get
anything done.
The "Daffodil Garden" was located on the side of a mountain.
It was a magnificent scene. One of the most beautiful sights you could
imagine. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and
poured it down over the mountain peak and slopes where it had run into
every crevice and over every rise. The mountainside was radiant, clothed
in massive drifts and waterfalls of daffodils. The flowers were planted in
majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange,
white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, saffron, and butter yellow. Each
different-colored variety (there were more than thirty-five varieties of
daffodils in the vast display) was planted as a group so that it swirled
and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue.
A charming path wound throughout the garden. There were several resting
stations, paved with stone and furnished with Victorian wooden benches and
great tubs of coral and carmine tulips. Five acres of flowers! All planted
one bulb at a time, by one woman who lived in a little house on the side
of the hill.
This lady had started planting one bulb at a time for a period of
thirty five years. She once had a vision of beauty and joy, imagining the
mountain covered in flowers. Instead of "wishing" she decided to
begin bringing her vision to life on that mountain.
In the lady’s own words, when asked how she created such an immense
garden, she answered, "One at a time, by one woman, two hands, two
feet, and a very little brain."
And this is what we call "The Daffodil Principal".
Regardless of your dream or vision, there is no other way to do it. You
have to do it one bulb at a time. There are no shortcuts. If you set out
on a journey, it begins with the first step. Then you take the second
step, and the third, and so on. Before you know it, you have traveled a
long way from where you began and you just keep on going. The sooner we
all learn to accept the "Daffodil Principle" the better. When
you continuously move forward, one step at a time - and at times it is
with a baby-step - we use the accumulation of time to accomplish so much.
We can actually change the world in which we live. Just think about all
you can accomplish in time.
It makes me think back to all those things I wanted to do but abandoned,
simply because it seemed as if it would take so much effort and time to
accomplish my ultimate goal. Think of all the books I could have read if I
had only read one chapter per day instead of trying to find several hours
at a time to read. Think of all the letters I could have written to family
and friends if I had only written one letter a week (I could have kept in
touch with 52 different friends each year). Think of how many people I
could have made feel wonderful, if I had taken the time to give one
sincere compliment per day to a stranger.
Instead of wasting any more time thinking about what I could have done,
I think I will start today! Have a good one!
