
We’ve all heard the phrase, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” But what about when life gives you something far less pleasant? Something that smells, stinks, and feels impossible to deal with—like, well, shit? A year ago, my life felt like that image above. It took quite a bit of trudging out and deep reflection to eventually see the value in what I had been through.
As a self-made farm girl, I am always finding relevant comparisons from life's experiences to the world around me. That’s where the art of composting provides not just practical farming wisdom, but essential life lessons. (it's okay, you can laugh at the comparison - I did!)
Composting is the process of breaking down organic waste into nutrient-rich soil. It takes time, care, and intentionality. In the same way, we can transform the difficulties in our lives into opportunities for growth and renewal.
Put on your muck boots because we’re going deeper into this metaphor, exploring how composting can show us the best way to process the “shit” we face.
#1: Oxygen Is Essential—Breathe Through It
In composting, oxygen is critical. The microorganisms that break down organic matter need it to do their job effectively. Without oxygen, the compost pile just sits as a putrid, toxic mess. Similarly, when we don’t allow the “shit” in our lives to breathe, it festers. Ignoring problems or bottling up emotions can lead to stress, resentment, and even physical illness.
Breathing—both literally and metaphorically—is the first step to transformation.
Deep Breathing: When life feels overwhelming, take intentional breaths. This simple act helps regulate your nervous system, bringing calm to the chaos.
Air Things Out: Be open about your issues. Talk to a friend, therapist, or journal. Share your thoughts and feelings to find clarity and relief. Be sure to focus on what can be learned so it doesn’t become rumination. That would be like just walking through the shit instead of turning it over.
Fresh Perspectives: Just as oxygen revitalizes compost, new perspectives can revitalize your mindset. Seek advice, read a book, or step away from a problem to gain clarity.
Oxygen teaches us the importance of staying open, allowing air to circulate through our experiences so they can break down and transform.
#2: Turn and Mix—Don’t Let It Sit Too Long
A good compost pile requires regular turning. Mixing the pile ensures that materials decompose evenly and that oxygen reaches all layers. Without this mixing, the pile stagnates, slowing the breakdown process and creating unpleasant odors.
In life, the same holds true. When we let problems sit untouched, they become heavier and harder to manage. Processing life’s challenges means bringing them to the surface and mixing them with other elements of our lives. Nothing exists in isolation, so why should our problems?
Incorporate Joy: Mix your hardships with moments of joy, gratitude, or play. Just as you balance “brown” (carbon-rich) and “green” (nitrogen-rich) materials in compost, balancing the heavy with the light can keep life manageable.
Reflect and Reassess: Don’t let issues settle at the bottom of your mind. Regularly check in with yourself through reflection. Are you holding onto something too tightly? Is there an old grudge that needs to be resolved?
Stay Active: Movement, both physical and mental, is a great way to “turn” life’s compost. Exercise, try new activities, or learn something new. By staying active, you’re preventing stagnation.
Turning and mixing teaches us that processing life’s difficulties requires action. It’s not enough to sit and wait for time to heal all wounds—sometimes, we need to stir the pot.
#3: The Right Balance Is Key—Find Your Ratio
In composting, the right balance of “brown” materials (like leaves, straw, and bedding) and “green” materials (like manure and grass clippings) is essential for effective decomposition. Too much of one or the other throws off the process, resulting in a pile that’s either too dry or too wet.
In life, balance is equally important. Consider how the following “elements” can work together:
Work and Rest: Overworking yourself is like adding too much “green” to your pile—it creates heat but burns out quickly. On the other hand, too much rest (or “brown”) can lead to stagnation. Strive for a balance that keeps you energized without leading to burnout.
Seriousness and Playfulness: Life isn’t all about serious reflection or endless fun. Too much of either will leave you in denial. Mixing the two ensures that you’re both growing and enjoying the journey.
Giving and Receiving: Like compost needs input to output rich soil, relationships thrive on mutual exchange. Balance your generosity with the ability to receive help and kindness from others.
The lesson here is to experiment and adjust until you find the right ratios for your unique needs. When life feels out of balance, ask yourself: “What am I adding too much of, and what am I neglecting?”
#4: Time and Patience—Trust the Process
Composting isn’t instant. It takes weeks or even months for organic matter to fully break down into rich, dark soil. Similarly, personal growth and healing take time. We live in a world that values quick fixes, but true transformation can’t be rushed.
Patience doesn’t mean passivity, though. Here’s how to stay engaged as you wait:
Celebrate Small Wins: Notice and appreciate incremental progress, whether it’s a small breakthrough in perspective or a minor shift in your mindset. Don’t get discouraged my occasional set backs either. There will be days you feel like you’re moving forward and days when you slide backwards.
Trust Nature’s Wisdom: Just as composting relies on natural processes, trust that your body, mind, and heart know how to heal. Give yourself grace during difficult times.
Keep Tending: Even as you wait, continue to “tend your pile” by practicing self-care, seeking support, and staying engaged in life.
Time and patience remind us that the best things in life—growth, wisdom, and resilience—are worth waiting for.
#5: What You Add Matters—Be Intentional
Not everything belongs in a compost pile. Certain items, like plastic or chemically treated materials, can contaminate the process. Similarly, not everything you encounter in life should be absorbed.
Being intentional about what you allow into your life can make all the difference:
Filter Your Inputs: Pay attention to the media you consume, the people you surround yourself with, and the beliefs you hold. Are they helping you grow, or are they toxic waste? You may need to adjust.
Set Boundaries: Just as you wouldn’t throw glass into a compost pile, set boundaries with behaviors, habits, or relationships that don’t serve you.
Feed Your Mind and Soul: Add “rich” materials to your life’s compost, like uplifting books, inspiring conversations, and fulfilling activities. These “nutrients” will enrich your personal soil.
What you add to your “pile” shapes the quality of the soil you’ll grow from. Choose wisely.
The End Result: Fertile Ground for Growth
When done right, composting transforms waste into something invaluable—soil that nurtures new life. In the same way, processing life’s difficulties with intention, patience, and balance can lead to personal growth, wisdom, and resilience. Looking back at the last few years of my life, I can see how I chose that path, how I came to trust people I shouldn't have, and how I ended up being disappointed. Now I know what to work on to avoid a repeat of that lesson. I am wiser for it.
The shit we experience doesn’t have to define us. Instead, it can be the very material that feeds our growth. Like composting, the process is time consuming and sometimes unpleasant, but the rewards are worth it. By breathing through challenges, mixing them with other aspects of life, maintaining balance, practicing patience, and being intentional, we can turn life’s hardest moments into fertile ground for something beautiful to grow.
So, the next time life throws some “shit” your way, don’t despair. Grab a mental pitchfork, start turning, and trust that, with time, you’ll create something rich, nourishing, and full of potential.
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