The Importance of Boundaries: Life Lesson from the Garden

The Spirit’s voice is audible to me in the garden. Sometimes it provides encouragement, other times it serves as a warning. Sometimes it’s a gentle whisper and other times it’s a bold exclamation.
But, the best messages are visual.

Look. Tell me what you see.

I restrict the plants’ growth because of insufficient space. For example, radishes require 3 inches between each other. Planting more than necessary is acceptable. However, I should have thinned them out at some point. This happened with each garden bed. Less quality radish and Swiss chard’s fungal vulnerability are the observed outcomes. I am sure the cabbages will not grow to their full size.

I even moved some extra ones to different beds. I am afraid of letting them go. In hindsight, I should have planted them in the other zones rather than the main garden. There, I would have to share with my garden friends like rabbits, birds, chipmunks, and deer.

But sharing is difficult. So that’s one lesson. Sharing this space with all creatures is part of my role as a gardener but a girl has to eat. I created zones in my garden where I don’t mind if the creatures eat and I placed a makeshift fence to protect my coveted crops from the deer.  The birds, rabbits, and squirrels still can access it but they don’t do too much damage even with my strawberry plant. 

But the most essential lesson improper spacing my plants taught me is that I lack boundaries. I must create safety spaces or fences for different areas of my life. And these spaces allow me to grow into my greatest capacity and foster well being. I found Dr. Peggy Swarbick’s  eight dimensions of wellness helpful for creating goals and boundaries. These interconnected elements include physical, emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual, financial, occupational and environmental.

What lessons have the garden taught you lately?

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