Mindfulness in the garden
What is mindfulness? How do we practice it? According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, professor emeritus of medicine at University of Massachusetts Medical School, the effects of mindfulness are an “awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally.” Practice taking walks through your yard or the park and just noticing what is around you without actively labeling everything. This is an active way of quieting the mind. Another term for it is called “just being.” From one moment to the next, there is nothing but that moment. Practicing mindfulness stops the judgement we consistently bring in our thoughts.
Why practice mindfulness? In our very active lives, we are hurrying from one moment to another. Do we realize how much we miss around us? Do we even know how much we miss? Mindfulness helps with reducing anxiety, reducing blood pressure and bringing about calm. It even brings joy into our lives. According to a study published by Harvard University, people who have access to a green space live a healthier life, and have less physical and mental illness.
When you are in the garden and busy doing a task, you are focused on the task at hand. That is mindfulness because you are not thinking about the weekend or the next doctor’s appointment coming up. When you focus on what is right in front of you, everything is clear. You will notice the details of a plant or flower you had not noticed before. It is time to stop and smell the roses, that you are growing. Focus on the color or the smell or the form of the plant. In that moment, it is just you and the plant.
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