Gardening Our Dreams

Like spring seeds carried by the wind, we sometimes find ourselves in unfamiliar circumstances, unsure of how we arrived there. Whether we believe it to be chance or choice, it is up to us to seize opportunities for growth. When confronted with the unknown, uncertainty can yield to a sense of empowerment if we recall that each day presents a banquet of choices, and the small decisions we make daily are acts of self-nourishment.

Spring can be a clean slate—a fresh, thawed soil in which to sow something courageous and new. With the wisdom gained from our winters, we can travel forward, even if we don’t have a map to guide the way. In the beginning, all we need is a spark, and it is okay if no one else sees its potential to ignite.

The renowned artist and sculptor Michelangelo believed that every block of stone contains a masterpiece waiting to be discovered and set free. Seasoned gardeners meticulously plan their harvests long before the first warm days appear, stockpiling seed catalogs and mapping out goals. Inspired chefs court flavor pairings, and expectant mothers design nurseries. Perhaps we need to remember that we are all creators in our own right and capable of trusting our own vision.

Many of our aspirations are thwarted by decision paralysis because we overanalyze and ignore intuition. A more promising path may be to combine passion with patience, allowing each small step to organically lead into another. Maintaining our focus in the present moment and keeping our eye on the path—rather than the destination—leaves room for an outcome more fruitful than we might have imagined.

This month’s to-do list:

•   Trust inspiration.

•   Start a journal to record ideas and build upon them.

•   Cheer for someone else’s goals.

Marlaina Donato is an author, artist and composer. Connect at WildflowersAndWoodSmoke.com.

Original article published at Natural Awakenings National