TThis weekend I spent some quiet time puttering in the garden. I’ve been using my Dwelling Well journal to stay focused on activities that nourish my spirit. Keeping this small ritual has helped me create gentle self-care habits: making lists of positive actions, reflecting, and imagining hopeful things. Right now, hope is what sustains me.
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While I stood outside enjoying the sunshine, I paused to listen to the neighborhood waterfall and the birds singing in the trees. The birds don’t know about the troubles of the world; they don’t seem to worry. They sing, tend their nests and care for their young. Their simplicity is strangely comforting.
I wandered through the yard, thinking about all the plants that will soon bloom. I’m especially excited for the lilacs, hydrangeas and peonies. I also considered what vegetables to plant this year. Little things to look forward to give a real sense of hope and purpose.
Before heading inside I clipped a few fresh blooms. Full disclosure: the day wasn’t perfect. While reaching up to snip a pink camellia from a high branch, I stepped in some dog mess. It was messy and inconvenient, but I refused to let it ruin the afternoon. I shrugged it off, tossed the shoe aside, and carried my flowers into the kitchen. Most went into a favorite little pitcher—so pretty—and I arranged a small bouquet for a simple spring centerpiece.
Time in the garden felt therapeutic—pun intended—and even the mishap couldn’t spoil the calm it gave my soul.
“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.” – Henri Matisse
What small act of self-care could you give yourself today?
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