What The Garden Told Me

I think we can all agree that Covid 19 shutdowns made us all stop and think. In WA we have been very lucky- our shutdown lockdown period was only for a handful of weeks- less than 2 months. I feel for those countries where it has been for many months. Those 7 weeks felt weird enough. They were discombobulating at best. At worst they have been so debilitating I fear my friends will be emotionally scarred for life. It is lonely and scary and there is a lot of fear of the unknown.

I do know a few things that helped. Routine. Every day I walked to the mailbox, which was not a long walk but one where I could take the dog and see the sun and clouds. One day I sat in a spot in the sun and read my mail and looked at the world that as going on, albeit very quietly, around me.

Birds were still singing in trees and the wind was still blowing. Cloud scudded overhead and worms still dug in the soil. These things were such a comfort at a time when our lives were turned upside and inside out.

Since that time I have tried to hold onto some of the lessons, I learned about myself. In particular, that my garden makes me feel really safe and (no pun intended) -grounded. And it was so lovely to go out during my lunch break (as I worked from home) and smell my lemon blossom. See my carrots grow. Watch the birds in the birdbath. Seeing these things calmed me.

We are so blessed here in WA to be relatively protected. But there has been much to learn that has made me feel and reassess what matters.

Slowing down. "There is more to life than increasing its speed". And remember we are still part of nature. And it will go on, whether I bluster and stress about it or not. Whether I am caught up in angst and thinking too much, or lying outside soaking up the sun. There is something very comforting about that thought.

Life goes on, whether I am there or not. I am infinitesimal - yet I am also all.

I am the wind that plays in the trees and stirs the leaves.

Much love

Jacquie Xxx