Spring, my all-time favorite season, is such a wonderful time of year. In the park near my house morning walks reveal trees budding and countless shades of green, reminiscent of my childhood box of crayons--green-yellow, yellow- green, pine green, olive green, spring green, green- blue, blue-green, and sea green. Every garden shop you pass is filled with vivid colors of bedding plants. The days are longer and cool crisp breezes allow for kite flying, walks, bike rides, and leisurely afternoons on our front porch. Spring is a time for shedding the old of winter and cleaning out the dirt and debris that has built up in our flower beds and yards. Spring is also a great time to consider what needs to be shed emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually. It is a time for renewal.

Using the garden analogy, I want to guide your thinking to the idea of growth in our lives. First, stop for a minute and picture in your mind a beautiful garden. Is your garden picture filled with blooming flowers, singing birds, and butterflies feeding on the nectar of blossoms? Possibly your picture is of a well-manicured garden with topiary shrubs and pathways, or maybe you enjoy the abandon of an English country garden. There is no right or wrong way to create the picture because it is your garden. Holding this image in your mind, begin to think about what it takes for your garden to flourish. Even if your garden is low-maintenance, you know that it will take time to prepare the soil, to choose the right plants, to water, fertilize, and weed. Though the appearance of a thousand blooms on the Lady Banks Roses or the multitude of tulips at the arboretum may seem magical, we know that we cannot just sit by and watch a garden grow. It takes work.

Keeping our lives and relationships vibrant and growing is much the same as growing a garden. It, too, takes work and intentionality. Growth and change can be frightening, and it may be easier to stay stuck in old patterns of being and relating. Growth requires clearing out and letting go of the old while making room for new and exciting possibilities. Just as we choose plants for our garden, we have choices in our lives. The choices that we make about the way we spend our time and energy affect every area of our lives and guide the course of our growth. Choosing to spend our time wisely nurturing ourselves and our relationships is like watering and fertilizing plants in the garden; however, no matter how hard we work, weeds appear and choke the life out of the healthy plants. The life of our relationships can be choked out by negligence, conflict, misunderstanding, and hurt. Mindfulness to these dynamics can keep them from overtaking life and preventing optimal health.

Are you ready for the challenge of spring? What winter burdens do you need to shed and clear out to make room for your garden to grow? With shovel and hoe in hand, I am available to help you get a great start. Happy gardening and growing!