Weeds of Wisdom

Today, my garden called to me instead of my meditation seat.

After three days of rain, I was feeling cooped up indoors. The weeds had been thriving in the damp spring soil, and when I saw a small break in the weather, I bundled up and stepped outside. I don’t enjoy weeding, so today I made it a mindfulness practice. As I focused on gently pulling the weeds, a few quiet thoughts surfaced.

Weeds happen – keep tending your garden.

No matter how carefully you tend to what matters, unexpected challenges, habits, or emotions will still appear. It can be frustrating, but it’s never a sign of weakness or failure. It’s just part of the process.

Pull weeds gently.

When I pull weeds too quickly, they often break off and grow right back. It’s same when I’m trying to make a change in my life. When I rush it, it doesn’t always hold. But when I move with care, it’s more likely to last.

Let the weeds feed the blooms.

When I turn weeds over and let them break down into the soil, they feed the flowers. It’s a bit like the harder moments in life. They may not feel helpful while we are in them, but looking back, we often realize they’ve quietly helped us grow.

Don’t let weeds take over – in your garden or your life.

If we ignore them, weeds will crowd out the plants and the parts of our life we really want to grow. So it’s worth checking in:  What’s draining your energy or pulling your focus away from your own well-being?

Use weeds as a guide.

They can pop up where space has been left unattended or become a tangle, showing us where something needs care, attention, or reconnecting.

A gentle reminder:

Sometimes things that keep showing up, even when we try to look away, are actually a persistent, quiet message. We don’t have to rush to fix them. Just paying attention can open the door to positive change.

An invitation:

Take a breath and check in.

·       What keeps showing up, even when you try to push it away?

·       Is there something small you could gently clear or release this week – even just one conversation, task or belief?

·       Try writing it down. Sometimes naming it is all it takes to begin shifting it.