Today I cleaned out the compost bin, discovering that what had once been banana peels, vegetable parings and coffee grounds had become like potting soil—dark brown, crumbly, rich with nutrients. With my old garden shovel, I loaded two loads of compost in my red wheelbarrow and spread it under the redwood tree.
As a reminder of nature’s transformational powers, even in the depths of winter, the compost bin is a metaphor for personal renewal. For in an examined life, everything is compost–unhappy memories, prior mistakes, habits we’d like to break, patterns we’ve outgrown.
Instead of dwelling on negative experiences, we can compost them. Asking, “What can I learn from this?” accepting the lesson, and then moving on can turn a negative experience into a new cycle of wisdom and growth.
- Do you have an old pattern—a painful memory of disappointment, regret or resentment, a mistake you made or a habit you’d like to break?
- If so, you can compost it.
- First, write down the pattern on an index card or slip of paper: “I compost __________(name it).” Then sign and date the card.
- For one month, look at the card each morning and say to yourself, “I compost____,” stating what you’ve chosen to compost.
- Breaking old habits takes time, so don’t lose heart. When you find yourself falling back into the old pattern, stop and tell yourself, “I’ve composted that.”
- At the end of the month, take the card, tear it up, and bury the pieces in the ground, adding your compost to the soil. Nature will do the rest.
In composting, the past circles back to transform the present and enrich the future as you participate in ongoing cycles of hope and renewal.
Namaste,
Diane
Reference
For an earlier account of composting and more lessons about gardening and spiritual practice, see Dreher, D. (2002). Inner Gardening: A Seasonal Path to Inner Peace. New York: HarperCollinsQuill.