Avoiding Tumbleweed People
(By Gil Gerretsen) One of my mentoring clients once made a casual reference to “tumbleweed people” and I thought it was a fabulous term that needed to be shared. They are “now and then” people who tend to blow through our lives. They can also be a dangerous nuisance.
If you’ve ever been out west in the autumn, or even watched a western movie, then you’ve probably seen tumbleweeds rolling across the landscape. If you are not familiar with tumbleweeds, then a simple Google video search will quickly enlighten you.
Tumbleweeds are actually dead Russian Thistle plants who spread their seeds as they are blown across the landscape by the prevailing winds. They can pile up in huge clusters to block roads and even bury houses. Washington State troopers once spent 10 hours digging motorists out of tumbleweeds that were piled 20-30 feet high on the roadway.
In like manner, tumbleweed people might seem attractive when they are growing and blooming, but they also have an insidious side. They spread their seeds wherever they go and leave them to sprout long after they have gone.
Not all people who touch our lives are tumbleweed people, but we all need to be vigilant for those who are because they can be dangerous. If you let the dangerous variety sow their seeds in your life, or permit them to clog your thinking, then you can easily get injured or trapped. Sometimes, it may take a massive effort to recover, so it’s best to avoid them as much as possible. Know the season and signs. Take a detour if you have to.
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