Things to do this week in your garden- April Week 2

Mindful Gardening and Floristry activities to calm your mind and soothe your soul

As the music thudded and the bright disco lights spun around our heads, we found a moment of connection in our friend’s kitchen.

It was one of those chats that got deep and meaningful quickly. A chat with someone you’ve known a long time but never really known, you know.

The guy in question was an usher at mine and Dave’s wedding nearly 10 years ago so Dave knows him well. But i’d only really ever exchanged pleasantries with him before last night.

He asked me how I was and I told him honestly. If you’ve been here a while you’ll know it’s a constant battle to feel brave enough to show my true self to people after years of masking to hide my perceived brokenness which was actually undiagnosed ADHD.

I told him about the ride i’d been on the last couple of years and how i’d finally learnt to accept myself after years of hating who I was. As I spoke his head nodded sadly and as I uttered my last sentence, he looked at me and said ‘I know exactly how you feel’.

He then spoke about the business he’s built up over the last 5 years and that he’s been doing 6 hours round trips every other week to keep it going since he’s moved down to Devon to chase a quieter life.

I looked at him quizzically. ‘But how is that the quiet life?’ I asked gently.

‘I know’ he said.

I offered my views on our society’s toxic beliefs about productivity and that how we’re led to believe that we aren’t worth anything if we’re not producing.

But that actually one of my core beliefs and missions is to show people that things (and especially gardening) are worth doing just for the joy of doing them, irrespective of the outcome.

That in all likelihood our generation will be working til we’re at least 80 (if we live that long) so it’s imperative that we enjoy our lives now.

And a super simple way to do that is in that underutilised space right outside your back door.

Start today with this week’s mindful gardening activities.