BALANCING THE EBB AND FLOW OF CHANGE

Dec. 09, 2024

BALANCING THE EBB AND FLOW OF CHANGE

Sitting on the beach watching the ocean come in and go out over and over is most relaxing to me. Ebb and flow &#; the recurrent pattern of coming and going. Just as the ocean&#;s tides have ebb (going) and flow (coming), so does our life. And, along with an ebb and flow the ocean has natural high tides and low tides. Our lives, too, have natural highs and lows. We seem to take the natural and expected ebbs and flows, highs and lows in stride. It is when something unexpected happens and brings unwanted change to us that we seem to focus on the ebb and flow.

While we rarely question the ebb and flow process of the ocean, a process that brings continual change to the ocean and its shoreline, we often question and have difficulty dealing with the ebb and flow in our lives. Why is that? Well, probably

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because the ebbs in our lives take something away and create a loss. This loss can lead to a low for us. (This can be likened to going after a sea shell at the ocean that has been washed in with the flow of the tide. But, before we can pick it up, the tide&#;s ebb takes that shell out to sea again.) Certain losses leave us with a sense of disappointment. I really liked that shell and wanted it. Why wasn&#;t I fast enough to get it? I really like my job. Why did I have to lose it? I really like the community in which I live. Why did we have to move? And, let&#;s face it. We usually devote more time, energy, and attention to the ebbs because they usually slow us down or prevent us from moving in a direction or they alter something we want.

The reality is things come and things go. This is the rhythm of life. The late American writer and theologian, Thomas Merton once said, &#;We cannot be happy if we expect to live all the time at the highest peak of intensity. Happiness is not a matter of intensity, but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.&#; Oh, my, yes. But the question is how do we manage the ebbs and flows in our lives so that we can maintain a sense of balance?

Reflect on the ebb. Take time to review and reflect on what really changed; what really happened. Get in touch with your emotions related to the change &#; anger, sadness, disappointment, frustration, etc. &#; and ask yourself why you feel that way. When we reflect, we think seriously and consider carefully.

Accept the ebb. What has happened may make no sense to us; we may not understand it all. But, there is always a reason behind everything, even change we don&#;t understand. New Zealand-born Australian country musician, Keith Urban said, &#;Life is a balance of holding on and letting go.&#; Accepting the change means letting go of the past; of what was. We cannot regain balance nor move forward until we&#;ve accepted what has happened; what has changed.

Keep things in perspective. Keeping things in perspective means that we have to keep things in context; we have to look at things and understand them within the bigger picture. For whatever is happening (worrying/bothering/causing you concern), how big a deal is it really? What effect is the issue really having on your life? Is it truly important or is it a &#;side&#; issue? If truly important, stop worrying and just take action. If insignificant, stop worrying, don&#;t give it any importance, and move on.

Set priorities. Align what you do with your values then prioritize what you do in line with those values. This is especially important if the ebb makes it feel as if our world has been turned upside down. Establish boundaries and limits. These define how you take charge of your time and space, and help keep you aligned with your values. It is okay to let go of some things, especially those not totally in line with your values.

Renew or reroute your purpose in life. Ask yourself whether the ebb has affected who you are or where you are going. Take some time to re-examine what truly matters to you. If your purpose in life hasn&#;t really been altered by the change, give yourself time to accept the change then continue to move forward with your life. If you feel the change has altered your life&#;s purpose or direction, then use the changed environment as a springboard to reroute your direction.

Maintain hope. If the ebb brings darkness, one way to regain balance is to have hope. Hope is the expectation of something beneficial in the future; it is a feeling of expectation and desire. Hope helps us to keep going through the ebb&#;s tough times. Hope lets us know that no matter how bad things seem at the moment, no matter how dark, the flow will bring something better and brighter.

Be flexible. Adopt the philosophy that anything can happen at any time. If this is your mindset, when something unexpected happens in the ebb, it is less likely to throw you way off balance. When stuff happens, roll with it. There are some things over which you have no control. You can only control your response to stuff.

Keep moving. Einstein said, &#;Life is like riding a bicycle. In order to keep your balance you must keep moving.&#; And, just like when riding a bicycle, if you fall off you need to get back on and continue the ride. The same is true when the ebb enters your life. While it make knock you down (knock you off the bike), you need to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get right back on and pedal on. The rest of the ride may be different. You may have a different outlook. But, the important thing is you keep moving. And, the more you move, the more you will regain your balance. And, who knows, your balance may be better and stronger.

Take it one day at a time. Don&#;t impose a time limit on yourself and feel that your balance needs to be &#;back&#; right away. Give yourself time. While the ebb may have happened in an instant, the recovery from it may take time. Give yourself whatever time is needed. As long as you are continuing to move forward (and don&#;t let the change get you stuck), it doesn&#;t matter if you take 10 steps forward and three steps back. The net result is still forward movement. So, take things one day at a time. Before too long your life will be back in balance.

Look for the positive in the ebb. There is a positive aspect in everything although it may not always be obvious. We have to look. No matter how terrible the situation might seem, you can always find something good if you take the time to think about it. Concentrate on what is right with the situation, not what is wrong with it.

Concentrate on positive thinking. Replace negative thoughts and words with positive ones, words that make you feel happy and in control. Concentrate on positive thoughts and positive results. Positive thinking helps us cope more easily and brings optimism into our lives. Positive thinking can go a long way in bringing balance and constructive changes into our lives (which might be so needed with the ebb).

Our life is like the ocean &#; there will be flows and ebbs, highs and lows. As Doe Zantamata (writer, author, photographer, graphic designer, teacher and student of life) says, &#;Everything in the world has a natural ebb and flow. The tides move out but flow in again. While the flow is much more comfortable, the ebb has great meaning. When time and resources are stripped away, you can see clearly what and who truly matters to you and who you matter to in return. When your flow returns, you&#;ll know exactly with who and where your time will be best spent, with a brand new appreciation for it all.&#; We need to remember that the next flow is never far behind the ebb. Working to maintain balance during the ebb will help us appreciate each flow more.

Irrigation systems: Ebb and flow system versus drip irrigation

To ensure the delivery of consistent and exceptional product quality, selecting the appropriate irrigation system becomes paramount. With a multitude of options available, including ebb and flow systems and drip irrigation, making the right choice is crucial. Here we will highlight the main differences between these two watering systems.

Definition: drip irrigation
Drip irrigation is a precise and efficient method that delivers water directly to the plants at a controlled rate through a network of pipes, tubing, and drippers. Each plant is equipped with one or more drippers, ensuring a targeted water supply and minimizing water wastage.

Definition: ebb and flow system
Ebb and flow system, also known as a flood and drain system, is an irrigation method where plants receive water from below. Then this water either drains into the subsoil (this is the case with an ErfGoedFloor) or runs to the lowest point to drain (this is the case with a concrete floor). This system allows for periodic flooding and draining, maintaining optimal moisture levels for plant growth.

1. Which irrigation system requires the least amount of labor?

Drip irrigation, in comparison to an ebb and flow system, can indeed be labor-intensive. Ebb and flow irrigation requires little manual effort, while drip irrigation involves manually inserting and removing drippers in each pot.

The attachment of each pot to a dripper in drip irrigation also hinders automation, such as the placement or adjustment of pots, as these tasks typically need to be carried out manually. On the other hand, an ebb and flow system doesn't face this limitation, making such operations easier to automate.

2. Which irrigation system makes the best use of available space?

When employing a drip irrigation system, growers face a critical decision regarding the spacing of drippers on the hose. Once this choice is made, altering pot sizes becomes challenging, limiting the grower's flexibility. Consequently, growers often resort to using smaller pot sizes and spacing them further apart to accommodate the drippers. However, this compromises the optimal and efficient utilization of space.

In contrast, ebb-and-flow floors offer remarkable space efficiency and grant growers the freedom to select pot sizes and spacing according to their needs, fostering greater flexibility in cultivation practices.

3. Which irrigation system wastes the least water?

Drip feeders provide highly precise and targeted watering directly to the pot's root zone, ensuring minimal water wastage. In contrast, an ebb and flow system does lead to some evaporation since the entire floor is filled with water temporarily. However, this evaporation is relatively limited. After all, the water remains above the floor for only about twenty minutes and can be efficiently collected and reused afterward.

4. Which irrigation system provides the most uniform water?

When using drippers, a plant receives water at a specific point in the pot. If the dripper is more to one side of the pot, that side receives sufficient water, while the other side remains dry, leading to unbalanced rooting. An ebb and flow system ensures the entire pot is uniformly watered, leading to more even watering.

One potential risk of drip irrigation is the rapid clogging or kinking of the hose, which can have severe consequences. Plants may receive insufficient or no water, and this issue might only become evident when crop quality deteriorates. To mitigate such problems, it is crucial to ensure that the watering water is thoroughly clean and disinfected. That way, clogging is less likely to occur, and uniform plant growth is maintained.

5. Which irrigation system creates the best plant quality?

In practice, the root volume in a drip irrigation system is typically smaller than in an ebb and flow system. This occurs because roots tend to develop where moisture is present, and with drip irrigation delivering water to the roots at a single point, roots tend to grow in a columnar shape.

In contrast, an ebb and flow system provides more even water distribution, resulting in roots being uniformly spread throughout the pot. This leads to improved crop development and a more resilient crop. Additionally, a uniformly and broadly developed root system enables plants to better withstand handling during transportation and storage on store shelves or in consumers' homes.

Both drip irrigation and ebb and flow systems offer the advantage of keeping the crop dry during watering, reducing the risk of fungi and diseases. Besides that, the precise and targeted watering approach also reduces pressure from root diseases.

6. Which irrigation system is the cheapest?

A drip irrigation system usually requires a lower investment than an ebb-and-flow system, which is relatively capital-intensive. Maintenance on drip systems is much higher, and it is common to have to replace drippers regularly. Also, investing in a good pump unit and filtration system is necessary with drip irrigation to prevent clogging.

7. What type of crops are these irrigation systems suitable for?

As mentioned earlier, drip irrigation systems require significant labor for placing, removing, and maintaining drippers, making them less ideal for short-term crops. However, they are well-suited for long-term crops like tree propagation, making them popular in tree nurseries.

On the other hand, an ebb and flow system proves highly effective for flowering potted and garden plants, such as roses. As previously discussed, watering from below minimizes the risk of leaf diseases since the leaves remain dry. This is especially advantageous for roses, where leaf diseases are a major concern.

Moreover, the ebb and flow system is particularly suitable for plants and trees with a high crown. Other irrigation methods often struggle to provide adequate moisture to these parts of the plants.

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BALANCING THE EBB AND FLOW OF CHANGE