Lessons From the Garden
Nature has a wonderful way of teaching life lessons. Today I'd like to share a few of the lessons that have been on my heart and mind. I hope you'll find some encouragement reading these thoughts!
"Your mind is a garden, your thoughts are the seeds, the harvest can either be flowers or weeds." - William Wordsworth
This is a lesson that I have been learning in particular over the last year. Thoughts have so much power. More than I ever realized. They have the power to send us into a cycle of fear and at the same time they have the power to create joy and peace. The secret lies in how I manage my thoughts. Do I choose to harbor thoughts that are not healthy for myself or others? Or, do I choose to focus on thoughts that are encouraging and beneficial?
Each time I spend a few minutes weeding my garden and nurturing my plants I am reminded that I must be diligent in my thought life. If I allow weeds to take over my garden, I won't reap much of a harvest. In the same way, if I allow my mind to be crowded with negative or untrue thoughts, I won't reap the joy and benefits of life.
Believe me, it's easy to type this out, but HARD to put into practice.
"A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness;" - Gertrude Jekyll
Patience. Simple but oh so difficult. If you are anything like me you want to learn, do, and experience lots of things. The problem is, I hate being new and incompetent. I don't want to put in the blood, sweat, and tears required to master my task. I want to automatically be good at it. But, that's not how life works.
Good things take time. They take effort and diligence. Gardens work the same way. If I try to rush ahead and skip the work I'll end up with mediocre results. Instead, consistent and dedicated work will produce the best harvest.
"The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong." - Laura Ingalls Wilder
This quote speaks to my soul. I am sad to say, that I'm often enchanted with the illusion of perfection; And I need frequent reminders that there is no such thing. I must stop to enjoy simple pleasures in the here and now. Nothing on earth will ever be perfect, but there are many good and beautiful moments. When I strive for perfection, I cheat myself of the joys from today.
In the garden I am reminded of this time and time again. Bugs eat my cabbage. Spinach doesn't sprout. Weeds pop up out of nowhere. You get the point. Although I'd love to have the "perfect garden" it just doesn't exist. I can choose to become discouraged, or I can choose to look for joy; focusing on the beauty and successes of the here and now.
Thank you for taking a few moments to read about the lessons I've learned from the garden. I hope you found them encouraging. If you have a lesson that you've learned from your garden leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you!
Thanks again for reading,
Abby
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