Tending Your Garden

Last year around this time, healing familial ties and other relationships was a theme that felt appropriately placed in the holiday season.  That time of year has come around again, and this year I’m thinking of it a little differently.  I’m wondering how the holidays will look if I consider myself a garden to tend and the people I interact with as visiting flowers.

How would activities be chosen differently?  How would words to a petal or stem be spoken?  How much water does that one need and what kinds of food does it like best? (I’m thinking of water and food here as listening, affection, shared conversations, and perhaps eye contact.)  What truly nourishes? This lends to feeling a little lighter and inquisitive about how the coming week and end of year will look and feel.  Envisioning people and yourself as a garden may not be what fits you — but if it does and you try it, I’d be delighted to know what you experience.  I’m giving it a try for sure!

Poetry by Emily Dickinson