Simple Lessons My Garden Has Taught Me

Gardening is an enriching past time and a great way to grow your own food.  It can also teach us simple ways to care for your health.  
 

1.  Patience.  A Garden does not grow overnight, and you should not expect your health to change that fast.  We have come to expect fast results.  The honest truth is that it takes 100 days for our body to make new blood cells.  To get results that last a lifetime, you need to be patient.  Be patient with yourself and make one small change and then another.
2. Nurture. Manage the weeds early and it will be easier to maintain over time.  This is true with our health as well. Pinpointing and managing trouble areas in your health and daily life that can cause stress and malnourishment early on will help you maintain good health longterm.  The more consistently you take care of yourself, the more you will notice your health, mood, and relationships improve. 
3. Back to the basics.  Gardens need very basic things to thrive and so do our bodies.  We are prehistoric creatures living in a high tech world that we created.  Our food has changed but what our bodies need hasn’t.  Clean whole foods, sun, fresh air, water, laughter, and good relationships will help your body and soul thrive.  Unplug and nurture your soul.
4. Till the soil.  Spreading the nutrients around helps keep your plants healthy.  Your body is an extraordinary machine and can make it’s own medicine with even a small amount of movement.  The best exercise is the one you will do.  So get out and move!
5. Boundaries.  Plants need room to grow up towards the sun and also spread their roots underground.  Make sure to set your boundaries within your life.  A lot more people have portable offices, which can be a blessing and a curse.  Set your own boundaries of when and where you will take business calls, have family time, or alone time.  Watch your relationships grow.

As with Gardening, your health will thrive with consistency, patience, and nurturing!
 
Heather Smith, Health Coach
Eat. Play. Grow.
Published in the May 2014 issue of The Lake Minnetonka Navigator