Introduction
Last year, I stumbled into gardening as a beginner with no real plan — just a deep need for something, anything, to help me feel grounded. I didn’t know all the ins and outs. I was just learning as I went, trying to keep plants alive while also trying to keep myself afloat.
What started as a distraction quickly became something more. I found peace in the garden. Over time, it became a quiet form of therapy.
The Noise I Needed to Escape
As a stay-at-home mom, it’s easy to get lost in the daily routine. Meals, messes, laundry, caretaking — repeat. I was dealing with caregiver burnout and constant stress. I felt like I was on edge every single day.
I didn’t realize how much I needed an outlet until I stepped into the garden.
Finding Stillness in the Soil
I remember one moment clearly — I was mixing soil when I suddenly realized I’d forgotten everything else going on around me. That moment of peace was rare, and so needed.
There’s something calming about having your hands in the dirt. I’m usually someone who likes to keep her nails done, but in the garden, I don’t even care. That connection to the earth makes everything else fade away.
Lessons from the Garden
Patience has been one of the biggest lessons. Plants don’t grow overnight. No matter how many times I wish they did, the garden reminds me that growth takes time.
I also learned about resilience. One pepper plant of mine looked so pitiful, I didn’t think it would make it. But I kept watering it. I kept showing up. And eventually, it gave me a few full-sized peppers. That plant taught me a lot about myself — about not giving up, even when I’m struggling.
Looking Ahead
I’m still learning — in gardening and in life. And I look forward to the lessons this year’s garden will teach me. Lessons about tending, resting, growing, and blooming again.
Maybe that’s what healing really is — showing up, just as you are, and allowing yourself to grow.
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