The Scientific Gardner of Well-Being

“Now I know a refuge never grows, from a chin in a hand in a thoughtful pose gotta tend the earth if you want a rose.” Indigo Girls

Gardening became a love later in life. I appreciate the entire process. I can wile away hours at the nursery, admiring and selecting plants. Soil under my nails is a sweet reminder of an afternoon preparing and planting. Freshly spread cedar mulch light’s up my olfactory smile. I am in awe of the capacity for growth and resilience in these miracles of nature. Even pulling weeds is a cathartic end of the day experience.

While I adore my garden time, I am NOT skilled at gardening. I buy more plants than I need. I plant the wrong stuff in the wrong place. I forget to water my container plants. My garden is a hodgepodge of enthusiasm without education. The contrast was startling after I visited my friend Karen’s fabulous secret garden (it seriously appears to have sprung up effortlessly and organically.)

Karen is a bona fide Master Gardener. She spends considerable time and effort to honing her scientific knowledge and understanding of flora. Despite her wisdom, Karen is unassuming and generous when talking with others about her passion. She is my gardening coach (whether she is aware of this or not:-­?). I aspire to emulate her synthesis of science, passion and kindness in my career.

My professional garden of well-­?being is planted with evidence-­?based, science driven, “not-­?so-­?common sense.” Perpetual curiosity and life-­?long learning keep the soil of my mind rich and engaged. Heartfelt connections are the life-­?enhancing rain essential to thrive. My fertilizer is a blend of acceptance, observation and acknowledgement. This gardener allows the garden it’s own bloom vision.

A focus on strengths, values and perennial growth encourage the roots of change to grow deep. An appreciation for the variety of blossoms increases awareness of the reciprocity of my work. The further we stretch and toward the sun, the more beautiful the bloom. Although bittersweet AND celebratory, the scientific gardener of well-­?being, steps away from the self-­?sustaining garden. A lovely memory of the bloom becomes the nectar that nourishes this gardener to seed once more.