Is your environment helping you thrive?

There were tomato seeds planted, on the same, day, in the same soil. Each seed received the same amount of water and each seed became a seedling. When the seedlings were about 10cm high some of them were planted out into the garden, while others were planted into pots and kept in the hot house. The seedlings that were planted outside were in good soil, composted and watered every day. The seedlings that were planted in the pots received the same soil and compost and watered every day. Yet today they are vastly different.

The plants in the garden have grown maybe five more centimetres and very much look like seedlings still. They are healthy and to look at, you would think there are going to be some good crops to come. The seedlings in the hothouse, however, have taken off, now over 50 cm, nearly three times the size of the garden tomatoes, they really are thriving. Same seeds, same love, different environment. The difference the environment makes is clear for tomatoes.

And it got me thinking how much does our environment affect our ability to thrive?

I've always held an affinity with the seasons and believe we are very much part of our environment, especially us females whose cycles mimic the moons phases, moods waxing and waning. Seasons where we feel energised and seasons where we retreat. Seasons where growth occurs and seasons where tending to disease and cutting back is required. I suspect it's why I am enjoying reconnecting to nature in the garden. Papatūānuku and being connected to her provides a sustenance I don't get anywhere else. I also think nature is a metaphor for our lives. (Actually I think nature IS us but lets just say its a metaphor for now to keep everyone with me!)

So should we all just get out into the garden and all our troubles will be gone? Well I think it would be a good start with one caveat. We need to ensure we tend to our own gardens and not try and create someone else's garden for ourselves. There are amazing gardens out there that I would love to have, but the plants, maintenance required and climate means that their type of garden wouldn't thrive for me. Like other peoples gardens, other peoples lives appear to be "greener" on the other side. Just the sheer number of self help books (yep I've done one of those - Discovery - creating a life you actively participate and thrive in) tells us that there is no one way that works for everyone - otherwise the first self help book would have sorted all of us. We each need to work out what we need as individuals, find what works for us and what doesn't. In the very sage lyrics of Pink "no one is handing you a key or a book with all the rules" - you've gotta get out there and figure it out.

Like gardens, our lives and creating one where we thrive, requires us to actively participate. We know that if we don't regulary work in our gardens, the weeds come up, disease and pests take root, plants fail and its not a nice place to be. We also wouldn't expect our neighbours to create and tend to our garden while we just sit back and enjoy the eventual harvest. Like gardening, we have got to put in the mahi. Consistent mahi. Some seasons more time and effort is needed in the garden. So too some days and weeks more time and effort is required from ourselves to have a joy filled life. And its not up to those around us to do this. Its up to us. Yep some days that sucks a big fatty but that's the reality. We need to tend to ourselves.

Back to the tomatoes who remained in the hothouse and are thriving. Are you in the right environment you need to be in to really thrive? Not just survive I'm talking about thriving.

With us well an truly into Spring, take a look around your life garden. Are there any areas that need re-designing? Are there any habits that need to be weeded out? Is there something that you would really like to tend to? Are there people, that perhaps need to be cut back or removed completely? Is there something or someone you need to start adding in?

Find what works for you. Give things a go. Keep what helps you to thrive, ditch what chokes you. Somethings that once worked may no longer - keep evaluating (Sunday sessions are great for those). #youdoyou because each of our lives are unique and it would be a pity to waste time trying to live somones elses.

Be kind, stay curious

Nadine xx