The Unexpected Benefits of Gardening
How a few hours in my mother’s garden reminded me that the simplest activities are often the most fulfilling.
I’ve spent the last few days helping my mother with her garden in London.
Nothing dramatic.
Trimming bushes.
Cleaning up the space.
Pulling weeds.
Moving slowly in the sun without really thinking about time.
I live in New York, so I don’t have a garden or large outdoor space of my own. Maybe that’s part of why it’s felt so meaningful.
What struck me most was how calming it felt to do something simple with my hands without constantly being interrupted by a screen, notification, or urge to check my phone.
For a few hours, I was completely present.
And honestly, it reminded me a lot of the silent retreat I attended at Zen Mountain Monastery.
Not because gardening and silent retreats are the same thing — but because both force you back into direct experience.
You stop consuming for a moment.
You start noticing things again:
birds
wind
sunlight
textures
silence
your own thoughts
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There’s something deeply grounding about caring for a physical space slowly and attentively.
No optimization.
No productivity hack.
No “life-changing morning routine.”
Just being there.
I think modern life quietly convinces us that fulfillment has to be expensive, impressive, or highly stimulating.
But some of the most fulfilling moments are surprisingly simple:
gardening
walking
reading outside
cooking slowly
talking to someone without rushing
sitting in silence
As the old saying goes, the best things in life are free.
Or at the very least, very simple.
And maybe that’s part of why they matter so much.
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