My friend hooked me up with some friends of hers who do this thing they call The Abundance. Every Friday, they get the culled items from one of the local organic-produce delivery companies, and they set all these awesome veggies out in boxes on the side of their house, send out a text message and it’s free for the taking.

I went for the first time a few weeks ago. There were boxes of little potatoes, big green leeks, leafy Swiss chard, peppers, onions, grapes and my favorite apples - Jona Golds. It was like an awesome, free farmers market, and because the produce was a gift, we all felt inspired to cook up some delicious soups and quiche and have people over for dinner. 

I went again today and ran into an acquantaince I haven’t seen in a while. We talked while we picked through the boxes, puzzling over what we finally discovered to be a celery root, and dividing up greens. The sky was trying to clear; the sun was sneaking through in patches even as a light drizzle came and went. We loaded  up our boxes and said goodbye, and I drove over to a friends house to share the take with her.

The whole drive home I felt better and more connected to my life than I have in a while. The simple thing of being a part of this network of people who are committed to sharing the wealth - the wealth that is what some folks consider garbage - and knowing that I have the ability to forward that, by picking up veggies for a friend who doesn’t drive, by cooking a meal and sharing it, just made me feel good. Like part of a community, like I have roots, like I belong. Belong here, now.

My ride home today took me by the lake. The sun was low in the southern sky, lighting up clouds and trees so they appeared lit by an inner fire. The surface of the water was molten gold - I don’t think I’ve ever seen it look so beautiful. I thanked the goddess for every red traffic light, for the opportunity to sit there and watch those trees, those clouds, that water.

I’m continually amazed at how quickly I move from feeling low, lonely and tired and spent, to feeling full and peaceful and connected and greatful. It took a long time for me to learn that feelings aren’t forever, they are ever changing like the reflections of the clouds on the lake. If I can just wait out the hard times, soon enough I will have a day, an hour, a moment like the ones I had today. Full of community, of good karma, of abundance.