Gardening keeps me sane. 

Oh yes, half an hour of determined weeding, clearing a border, mowing and edging a lawn, or planting and picking luscious food is therapeutic.

But that’s not what I meant. This kind of ‘gardening,’ the kind that saves me, takes place anywhere I want it to. Wherever I can be peaceful and comfortable.

It’s my special place. My haven. And it’s completely in my mind.

So I can do this indoors. In an office. On a patio. On a train. Anywhere.

Your garden may be totally different to mine, but its gifts can be identical. Mine has a running, winding stream. Gently flowing water, tripping and falling over stones, has always soothed and refreshed me and I believe in the healing power of water. Any water. It balances and clarifies. It doesn’t matter what kind of water or where it is. It can come as a torrent, a Niagara or Angel Falls. It can roll like thunder, in crashing waves. It can be a bird bath sized pond, or taken internally in an icy glassful. But water can be magical in its life affirming effects.

So, my garden has a stream. And some trees, dappled light filtering through them. And roses, essential, for me. And dogs; rollicking, happy dogs. Birdsong. A caressing breeze…

But really, what is in it isn’t important. Except to me. It’s a personal, special place.

And, maybe not every day, but as often as I can, I go there. I visit. Usually, it’s sunny. People I have loved and who are no longer on this Earth sometimes pop in to say ‘Hi,’ and we commune.  I breathe, slowly and deeply, I sit or recline in comfort. I feel the warmth of the safe, healing sunlight on my skin. I let myself relax, really relax.

At my centre. My gut. The place where my soul resides.

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I walk in my garden. Your special haven might be somewhere totally different; a beach or a mountain top, perhaps. But I urge you to visit it often. To get away from mundane, everyday life and recharge. There are plenty of guided meditations available if you choose that path. But if that isn’t for you, or you think you ‘can’t do it,’ just take a few minutes from your schedule, to invest in YOU. To connect. To catch your breath. You don’t have to believe in anything specific. This is for everyone.

We live in a busy, stressful world. We’re bombarded daily by bustle and noise and 24 hour news channels, filling our minds with ‘the bad stuff’ and all the things that the powers that be in our world want us to know. But life is meant for so much more than that. It is such a precious gift to simply be here. To live. To breathe.

So…pause a while, and catch your breath. Just breathe; health and wellbeing IN, stress and negativity OUT.

You’ll reap what you sow.