Welcome back! I’m continuing a short series of posts on garden lessons. Last time I introduced you to our sad, dead looking lawn due to neglect last summer. You can read “Garden Lessons 1” here if you missed it. A lot of weeds began to grow, which has turned into my summer outdoor project. The tedious task of weeding can be mundane and take loads of time, but in the process I discovered something unexpected.
I Became a Gardener
I must admit, I’m no gardener by nature. In fact, I’d rather pour myself into dozens of other projects before I will plant an herb garden or even a lovely pot of flowers. It’s not that I don’t like planting, or the enjoyment flowers bring. It’s because that is only the beginning. Plants and flowers needs constant care. They need an attentive gardener to water daily, and pull weeds, both of which I am generally not so good. However, by committing myself to these tasks recently in our backyard, over time I’ve discovered a little bit of what gardeners love about the garden.
My Discoveries
While kneeling near the earth again and again to pull weeds, I discovered that the smell of dirt, the sunshine on my back, and the fresh air are all very good for me, especially after months of quarantine. I never knew that the way my mind was allowed to think while doing the repetitive task of weeding was going to be so therapeutic and relaxing! The enjoyment of becoming lost in the storybook of my own thoughts has been the most unexpected, pleasurable gift of all.
The Topic of My Thoughts
Some of my thoughts have been mindless, while others are quite deep. As I’ve contemplated, my busy hands have been at work in the dirt. The overwhelming topic that keeps returning to my mind is the garden itself. The symbols of the garden, the weeds, the soil, the sun, they’re all beautiful, and quite the perfect picture.
By now you can probably see where I’m going with this, but tune in to the next post, and be sure to make it to the end for the surprise gift!
(to be continued)…
Read Garden Lessons 3 here.
