I have a big, untamed yard. My house, perched in the mountains, was built on virgin land just a few years ago. The thing about virgin land is that the native vegetation has had millennia to perfect itself for the environment. In rainy years, my yard becomes an explosion of life: waist-high buffalo grass, purple artichoke stalks, massive stands of miner’s candles, and bizarre, sticky-leafed weeds. Every thorn-bearing shrub in northern Colorado thrives here, growing thick, tangled, prickly, and unapologetically wild.
Despite the chaos, I find solace in the work it takes to tame my yard. Even when it’s just whacking down a wall of weeds, Gardening is good for the soul. For me, it creates a space where my thoughts can untangle themselves.
This isn’t unique to Gardening. Any task that requires just enough focus to keep your hands busy while leaving your mind free can spark reflective thinking. Painting a room, doing the dishes, walking the dog, or driving a familiar route to work can unclog your mind – even when you don’t realize it is stuck. While it might seem like you’re just daydreaming, you focus differently and sometimes more deeply.
When you’re overwhelmed, try a simple task that doesn’t demand your full attention. Weed the yard, wash the car, or tackle the kitchen’s junk drawer. You might be surprised.
Sometimes, the answers we need emerge when we stop trying so hard to find them.
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