My entire adult life, I’ve never been connected to plants, and to the soil. It’s an odd thing, perhaps, for a mostly-vegetarian.
Back in Brooklyn, we didn’t have a yard, community gardens always had waiting lists for plots, and numerous plants we brought into our home didn’t make it past several months. Neither my husband nor I have green thumbs, so to speak.
And yet, every once in a while, we would get a stroke of luck. For example, when the orchid someone gifted us bloomed 4 or 5 years in a row, despite being well-watered and in direct sunlight most of the time.
Surrounded by Farmland
Recently, we moved to a somewhat small town surrounded by farmland; the produce here looks and tastes amazing! Many of our neighbors even grow some of their own produce. Last summer and fall we even noticed stacks of vegetables in people’s front yards near the sidewalk, being given away because the harvest was more than they could consume on their own. And, now that we have a yard (a large yard even, by Brooklyn standards), my husband is determined to plant a garden.
I’m a bit scared of this prospect.
I remember when my grandfather had a tremendous garden in his backyard. He was retired by then, and was able to spend most of every day in his garden tending to the fruits and vegetables. I still remember him as a sort of suburban farmer. It looked from the outside like a satisfying venture. He took great care, and he was good at it. As he grew even older, he eventually moved into an apartment in a retirement community, at which point I asked if he would miss his garden, which he obviously had loved. His statement to me was, “No. It was a lot of work.” I was surprised. But, he said it in a way that made me realize just how much he meant it.
The Thought of Starting a Garden
The thought of starting a garden without a lot of time to tend to it, with a poor houseplant track record, and without the love and/or curiosity for gardening makes me think Kenny and I are setting ourselves up for a big disappointment.
And yet, isn’t this how every big project feels at the start? Manned at first only with teeny-tiny seeds, one must generate copious amounts of faith to believe all the effort will eventually lead to large, leafy plants that will feed, no… nourish. Even if the seeds we are talking about are metaphors for starting a new career, a new relationship, moving to a new home, etc. It all feels the same to our minds.
Yoga Philosophy and Ayurveda
Yoga philosophy actually teaches that our thoughts are like seeds waiting to grow. If you have a dream to do something, to become something, the first step is to imagine all the steps to success in as much detail as possible. And, our daily meditation is a time when we weed out any resistant thoughts that will get in the way of our progress.
The practice of yoga has close ties to the ancient health science of ayurveda, which according to the Ayurvedic Institute, “places great emphasis on prevention and encourages the maintenance of health through close attention to balance in one’s life, right thinking, diet, lifestyle and the use of herbs.” (ayurveda.com) This means that in ancient India (and even today), a visit to the doctor would result in a prescription of various foods to eat or avoid and some lifestyle changes in order to bring an ill body back to health. Here in the USA, we may be used to a doctor visit resulting in a prescription for pharmaceuticals and perhaps a few lifestyle changes. But really, is there much difference between ayurveda and “western” medicine? Both require consumption of things that will bring us back to balance.
You are What You Eat
“You are what you eat” is a common saying I’ve heard my entire life. And, consumption comes in more than one variety. Yes, we consume food for our digestive systems. And, we also consume the news, or goods and services (as in consumer goods), or ideas as the phrase “food for thought” highlights.
As I continue to build a new life in my new home town, feeding myself a steady (and nutritious) diet of positive thoughts will be part of the changes I need to make in order to succeed. So, even if I am nervous about how our foray into gardening will turn out, I am looking forward to planting seeds outside in our new garden. Because for the most part the sun, soil and clouds will be what makes the plants grow. The most important thing I can do, is plant the seeds.
Are you suffering from negative thoughts?
Try reading this article by Dr. Rohan Nagar found at: www.drrohannagar.com
He’ll guide you step by step through a powerful practice to help bring your mind back to balance.
