Summer is fast approaching and the anticipation of creating a whole new routine is beyond exciting.  Last year, my morning routine consisted of watching a TED talk, eating breakfast outside whenever possible, answering emails and writing the blog.  I had talked about writing for some time, but I finally sat down and gave it a try last summer and have been able to continue that throughout the year which I consider a success.  There are many things I talk about doing or will begin and not finish, thinking it’s something I should do, but this year I’m thinking a little differently.  I think this year it’s time to weed my garden.

I heard this great analogy today describing lives as a deserted garden to begin weeding, clearing out and planting again or for the first time.  I don’t know that my garden is deserted as much as it is overgrown and unorganized.  Full of things I have planted and neglected, full of possible beauty being choked out by the weeds of things I feel like I have to do but don’t really want to do.  The weeds that should be cleared out and thrown away so that I can plant something I can really take the time to nurture.

I have planted things that others have said I should plant and being a pleaser, I do it.  But once they aren’t paying attention, I’m not either and I might water it once in a while, but it never reaches its full potential because it’s not something I wanted to plant in the first place.  One of the reasons things get neglected in my garden is because I allow myself to get distracted by other things, mostly in the form of screens these days, rather than taking the time to breathe and cultivate my only garden.

It is my only garden you know, just as your garden is your only one.  And the garden is only as healthy and beautiful as we make it to be.  You see, gardens will just continue to exist whether we do anything purposeful to it or not, so we can have a garden of weeds, still growing but not really serving its purpose.  But the beauty of gardens is that we can get rid the weeds, and either nurture what we have already started or begin from scratch and start over again.  Gardens are forgiving that way, always giving us as many chances as we need to get it right.

Feeding our garden is so important, providing the right nourishment, water and sunshine to grow.  We need to visit the garden regularly to make sure those pesky weeds we’ve worked so hard to clear out aren’t attempting to sneak back in when we get busy.  The best of intentions are no excuse for just getting in there often to do the work so that we don’t get overwhelmed.

Pretty sure I’m running out of analogies here, other than this.  In the last several years, I have really found joy in planting flowers outside and at first I was really intimidated by this new hobby of mine.  What if I overwatered or didn’t water enough?  What if I didn’t plant them deep enough or have the right soil?  The what if’s do tend to pop up when you’re planting a new garden but what I think I’ve learned is that if I am diligent and observant, I can see when I need to take some action.  I can ask people for help and advice or read about how to care for these new plants.  And I can just trust my instincts.  Does what I’m doing to nurture this garden feel right?  If not, I can change it or move it or replant it.  But once I get it, I make sure to stay in a daily habit of deadheading the flowers and checking the moisture in the soil and I am rewarded with beautiful flowers all summer long.

This summer, I may begin to take out those weeds chocking out my garden, maybe less time with the screens, more time reading and walking, drinking water and getting sun.  Spending quality time with people I love and people I want to get to know better.  Learning from those I admire and releasing those in my life who my pastor always called a “life suck”.  Growing a garden that is all mine, free from the weeds of procrastination and fear, and one that people will see for its genuine beauty.