When spring of year three rolled around, I was determined to make it work. Trying hard to analyze the situation, I thought perhaps years of salt from winter maintenance affected the soil, so I recruited my husband to help dig it up. We built flower boxes and filled them in with fresh topsoil. I ordered bulbs from a fancy garden website, followed the planting guidelines meticulously, and just like that, the problem was solved! That summer, I tried not to be disappointed when there was little growth in the boxes. I told myself the bulbs just needed a season to root and we would have our picture-perfect curb appeal the following year. Fast forward to year four, only 3 of my 15 bulbs bloomed, and my determination turned into obsession. I walked the neighborhood looking at what everyone else was growing, found the trends, and bought the same plants. I pulled every single weed that grew between them, watered aggressively, and took every wilted leaf as a personal sign of failure. Maintenance became an obligation and I felt guilty if skipped even a single day. One particularly busy week, when I finally had a day off, the flower bed needed my attention. Out on the battleground at 7 am, pulling the intruders and pruning survivors, I wondered why this task felt like such a chore. I thought hard about why I wasn’t enjoying the experience. I’m a morning person who loves to be outside, my entire indoor space is filled with plants, so what was the problem? Was someone making me do this against my will? As I reflected on these questions, it became clear to me that I had more control over this experience than I realized. It was my choice to take on this project and my frustration was simply tied to my lack of experience with outdoor gardening. I wasn't failing, I was learning a new skill. I wasn't pulling weeds, I was making space for a garden to grow. This simple shift in perspective transformed the task of maintaining the flower bed from a chore that needed to be crossed the list to a ritual I could enjoy and take pride in. I did eventually get a few flowers to bloom and despite the many spaces that still needed to fill in, I was still able to feel a sense of accomplishment. I may never have that picture-perfect curb appeal but I know in time, I will create something beautiful and for now, that's enough. In any given moment, I can find peace
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I choose to fight back with a regular yoga practice; however, recognizing that my journey with mindfulness is still in its infancy, I am beginning to develop a personal arsenal of stress-busting rituals. Some take time, commitment, and patience. Others, I treat as an impromptu adventure or well-earned treat; for these, I often turn the woods. I have always found my time on the trail to be therapeutic. I try hard to make it a priority to carve out time to rack up the miles and get lost in the woods. Unfortunately, during extra busy times in my life, this practice is often the first to get cut, and I find myself longing for that afternoon in the woods. It wasn't until recently that decided to explore the idea of integrating sort but mindful outdoor adventures into my busy schedule. I began committing 20 - 40-minute blocks of time to this ritual, stopping at a trail on the way to or from various commitments. With limited time, I start hiking a brisk pace while focusing on deepening my breath. Once I link my pace to my breath, I add in a series of arm circles and begin to hunt for the perfect stretching tree. Once I find it, I utilize the leverage of the tree’s trunk to explore areas of tension, playing with a series of passive stretches. I wrap up with few moments of stillness by taking in a few deep breaths of fresh air before a swift trek back to the car. After this time out, I often return to the day’s itinerary with a fresh perspective, feeling restored and reset. So, the next time you are in the middle of a busy a week and you think there might be an unwanted passenger somewhere in your back seat, allow yourself to take time for a little mindfulness in the woods. Not sure where to start? Find a tree try these poses!
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