When I first began gardening, much of what I learned came from the mistakes I made. Overwatering? It is possible,

I discovered. Or which tasks I needed to do that didn't, that my plants needed to thrive in the way

that I had hoped. As I read books, watched gardening programs hosted by seasoned gardeners, and asked

questions of gardening experts at public gardens and nurseries, I then began to see more successes,

the ones that I had envisioned and had hoped for. The same thing happens when we put in the time

to meditate. Our intention by meditating isn't to become the best

meditator of all time. No, this is a skill that we want to bring into our entire day,

to elevate the quality of our entire life. We don't want to meditate all day. We want to learn

this skill during our meditation practice, and then we

apply that skill in how we engage with our day, mindfully. And by meditating, we're strengthening

that ability to be mindful. All mindful means is to be paying attention fully and thus being able to then see

clearly. When we begin to see clearly, we begin to notice what nourishes us, as well as what causes

us to shrink or reduce our ability to live well.

By becoming mindful, we become aware of what to water in our lives if we want to grow

and want to be nourished and what to stop watering so that it won't continue to strangle the

awesomeness that is possible.

So with each opportunity to meditate, be reminded that you are strengthening the skill of knowing yourself

and your environment to be able to discern with clarity what nourishes you.

And in time, you will become clear about what

you are currently watering that does indeed do that, and also be able to pinpoint where you have

been watering that simply wastes water. Choose to be a sustainable gardener to carry that analogy forward.

And in time, your garden, your entire life

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