Passion for Passionfruit

Every now and then, I get bored at home, and not too long ago, I discovered a (tank) passionfruit vine out the back growing in our neighbour's yard (well, I always knew it was there - I just noticed how big it was). It starts from the ground on their side near the fence and climbs up onto the branches of a large tree (which is also near the fence). The neighbour's side is also elevated about a metre above our place and is supported by a retaining wall. The part of the vine that grows on the tree's brances hangs above our side. The passionfruit on their side are in arm's reach from their level, while the passionfruit on our side hang up to 7 or so metres above.

So anyways, I decided to try and pick them since I didn't want them to go to waste. You see, if they are ignored, they get over-ripe, fall down, and rot (which is what happens with the neighbours). I figured that I'd rather see the ripe ones eaten than fall down and rot. the first few times I visited the vine, I went for the ones within arm's reach. I took off all the low ones on our side and nabbed all the ripe ones over the neighbours' side (They don't care anyway, and they weren't there. I seriously think I'm doing them a favour - their yard is full of rotten passionfruit!) Anyways, after I grabbed all the ones within reach, I looked at the ones that were still there, and I was unsatisfied...so I used a rake to get a few higher ones down. Still, I was unsatisfied, and since I couldn't get the ripe ones up high, I went for some half-ripe ones just for the sake of it. Not as satisfying.

During my next few visits, I didn't really do much. I just thought about getting the ones on top that I couldn't reach. I wanted them, and I was contemplating on how to get them, but I was sure of one thing: I couldn't do it! At least not for now...I made a rather poor rig by tying a metre-long stick to the rake, which failed. It couldn't reach, and after a few swings, it broke. This made me disappointed (well, it wasn't much of an issue, but my disappointment was significant for an issue with a low level of importance like this one). I also tried throwing stuff at the vine eg. the rake, the broom, and a metre-long stick, but I decided to abandon this because it made too much noise when the things crashed on the shed ^^. After these attempts, I found myself still wanting the passionfruit but unable to get it. All I did when I was there was think about how to get them down - just thinking and not doing. The only doing i did was use the "failed" rig a couple more times, and all I got were some green ones.

Today, I decided to try something new. I went for it. Long story short, I grabbed some stuff from the garage and the backyard and came up with *gasp* the ultimate contraption: a 12-foot (around 3.7m) monster consisting of the rake, a wooden broom handle, a random 1m stick (probably used for poking fires) and a blind rod (I think that's what it's called. It's the rod you twist to adjust horizontal blinds, and no, it's not a cane.); all held together with copious and carefully placed amounts of brown packaging tape. It reached - Hoorah! It reached, but it couldn't take them down. I kept poking, swinging and twirling the thing around, but no success. All I got was a pair of green ones T_T. I decided it needed something more - a hook! Or a loop. So I attached a loop of garden wire to the end of the blind rod and tried again. After a few attempts of getting used to the new rig...success! I took them ALL down. All but one, which was hidden deep in the vines. And yep, I wasn't fully satisfied. But then, I thought for a minute...Why was I fussing over the one that was still up there? Was I not already satisfied with the ones (around 20) I've already taken down? This reminds me of gambling...'nuff said.

So, how does this important at all? Actually, it helped me get things into perspective. I learned two things: too much thinking and not putting it into action doesn't get far, and that my focus plays a big role in determining my attitiude, i.e. focusing on one "unclaimed" passionfruit instead of the 20 or so I got made me unsatisfied and disappointed (mildly of course, but still...). So the implications...? (lol I sound like a scientist) Well, lately, I've been worrying about a lot of stuff - thinking, thinking, thinking, and either neglecting the action part or being too worried about carry out my desires. Maybe I should worry less, and be a bit more fearless (but not careless)with my actions. Actually, come to think of it, I might have been careless in that I've let my worries get a bit out of control.

Another thing: I've probably been too focused on my mistakes and not focused enough on what I've already got. This has made me bitter, and has probably impacted on the way I do things. Actually, this might have been what causes me to be 'religious' every now and then. There's no room for that. Anyways, my final verdict: we can't have everything in life, but we don't NEED everything in life, so let's learn to appreciate what we've got.

Actually...I somehow think God's involved in all this. Man, crazy, huh? Using passionfruits to teach me a lesson... Oh well, God works in weird and wonderful ways. So...in conclusion: Less chat, more splat (not so much with the wrinkled passionfruit that I chop in half with the shovel, then scoop up and throw over the fence). I mean being more active in my life; carrying out the desires that come from my heart. Hoorah! Also, adopting a more positive focus and appreciating the things I've got (and not forgetting to thank God for them). Hoorah! Amen.