In our lifetimes, we will only have the opportunity to tend approximately one garden for any significant length of time. Some people may own a home, then move on to a larger one. But for most of us, if we take up gardening, it is either later in life when we have more time or when we finally realize we might enjoy the hobby.
I have given a lot of thought to the question: what is a garden? Why do we garden? Some people like to plant vegetables, and it can be immensely satisfying to grow something yourself. Others aim to create something beautiful. I fall into the latter category, and I have found one sentence that best conveys my thoughts:
A garden is a painting we get to paint once.
In this way, a garden is a lot like life. We only get one. You can make mistakes, you can rearrange things, but the memory of what you did before is always there. You should approach it carefully, choosing the right plants and the right places for them. Find plants that complement one another and will fill the garden with color year-round.
Like life, choose your friends, your spouse, and your activities with care. They are the garden of your life. Design the layout of your life thoughtfully, because, like your garden beds, they will shape the picture you see when you look back.
Treat your life like a garden you only get to have once.
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