You know that first taste of spring? The way the air feels alive with the soft chorus of birds and the tentative calls of ducks and geese. The gradual transformation of fields from brown to vibrant green and the first spring daffodils lifting their yellow heads inspire awe. I don’t know about you, but somewhere in that throng, my heart starts to feel alive in a new way, and my thoughts turn to my garden. I pause wondering when I ought to prepare my soil while trying to determine how many more weeks of cold snaps are yet to come. “Gardening is about finding the right combination of sunlight, fertile soil, and water to make your plants thrive” (https://www.gardendesign.com/how-to/).
As simple as that concept appears to be, it can be incredibly challenging to find that perfect balance. What does it take to garden what I want to see grow? Maybe it’s tomatoes, maybe it’s gorgeous maroon Dahlias, but perhaps, like me, those things aren’t sufficient, and you’d like to know how to garden and nurture something more intentional. For me, it’s a grateful heart, purposeful intentionality, organizational skills amongst many priorities, and a happy home. For me, gardening what I want to grow takes the right combination of Sonlight, a fertile soul, and nourishment to maintain that place of steadiness.
Nurturing a Grateful Heart
Nurturing a grateful heart means tuning in to a relaxing playlist. Check out this playlist for an idea, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byEUIzfVLAs&list=PL6ykIzIA2E7Kv3rKqfLQGNkurDb70u1XZ&index=7. Meditating and praising God for the many blessings in life while tuning into the many wonders of the world are all beneficial in cultivating a grateful heart. Gardening purposeful intentionality means being willing to sacrifice the things that keep us “busy” for the things that keep us fulfilled. For me, that’s learning to prioritize quiet time with my husband, focus time to write, and plenty of time to sleep.
Organizational Skills
Cultivating organizational skills amongst my many priorities, is a regular hurdle. Most often though, I seek to cultivate that skill by building a list. It doesn’t really matter where. Perhaps it’s a whiteboard, notes on my phone, or penciled into my calendar, the important part is building it. That list is beneficial for the long run, but it’s also important to break it down to daily accomplishable tasks! Implementation and Activation are key for this part! Start with simple accomplishable goals: finish my makeup, wash the dishes, take meat out of the freezer for dinner. As they get checked off, confidence grows, and larger lists are accomplished!
Cultivating a Happy Home
For me, gardening a happy home means intentional training with my children, making plenty of yummy and healthy food – especially healthy desserts and treats (Check out this recipe for a great idea: https://www.fullerssugarhouse.com/recipes/maple-fudge-brownies/).
It means cleaning regularly and enjoying it. It means romancing my husband. It means relishing the little moments that make each day complete: making the bed, building a fire, washing my dishes, picking out daily outfits, wiping the table, putting on makeup, placing a bow in my daughter’s hair, and teaching my son about people, places, and things!
What is it that you’d like to see grow? How do you plan to garden your fragile blooms this spring?
If you’d like to read more, check out more from me at Little Moments Form Big Memories.
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