Monday, February 13, 2012

What's In Your Garden?


I like gardens.  Any garden.  All gardens.  They give a bit of insight into the spirit of their owner.  When I was growing up my family moved around a lot.  We rented various houses in the small town where I grew up, and while the houses might have changed frequently, the one constant I could depend on is my mother's vegetable garden.  To her, a garden's only purpose was to help feed her family and that was enough.  But I think, as a writer, gardens serve a much larger purpose.


I like to have balance in my life whenever possible.  The demands of having a full time job, numerous social commitments and still finding time to write challenges me to have a more organized "garden" where everything has it's place.  There is a level of comfort knowing that while my life may look like a maze of confusing twists and turns to others, I know exactly where my various paths will lead me.



What would I find in your garden?  Would there be streams of thoughts running throughout the rock solid ideas you have placed all around?  A daily reminder that while your life is forever changing, some things will always remain the same?



Maybe I would find that your garden is made up of long standing traditions?  A lifetime's worth of experiences creates a garden of purposefully placed memories.  It is the foundation of exactly who you are as a person; bringing comfort to your spirit and strength to your writing.



Or maybe your garden is one of organized chaos?  If I looked closely enough, I might discover where the wild things actually came from.  There is beauty in the freedom to simply be who you are, with no regrets, and to bring that fresh outlook to your stories.  The colors of the world surround you and flavor your writing.



No matter what type of writer you are, there is a sanctuary in your mind where you can go whenever you like.  A comforting spot to refresh your spirit, gather your thoughts, and where you find the magic to create your own works of art.  Writers understand the need for gardens very well.  It's where our "inner child" can roam and be free to go on whatever grand new adventure awaits.  All it takes is the right kind of garden.






14 comments:

  1. I had a garden once. I let the neighbor's rabbits take it over.
    That may be an indication of why I haven't submitted anything I've written. I let my fear of rejection take over.
    Your blog does make one pause and reflect.

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    1. Most writers have at one point in their careers either dealt with fear of rejection or, like in my case, fear of success. But I wonder what is the worse thing that could happen? You don't get published? Well, alot of us aren't published right now and yet we are still driven to write and we still feel a certain amount of joy in being able to express ourselves. Maybe we aren't all destined to be "published" authors but that can NEVER take away our ability to WRITE!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  2. A garden is an interesting metaphor for creativity. I don't know how well it works for me, though, because I don't have a green thumb and could probably kill petrified wood. Nice post.

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    1. Thanks, Stephen, for stopping by! In real life, about the only thing I can grow seems to be tomatoes...good thing I LOVE tomatoes...lol...

      Come back anytime!

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  3. Made me think of this.....
    "He came into the garden of my imagination, played and left, but my garden would never again be quite the same."
    Not sure if that is an exact quote or even where it came from. All I know is it has been in my head for a long time and comes out at the strangest moments. I have a series of photos titled "Garden of my Imagination".
    Lisa

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    1. Thanks, Lisa, for stopping by! What a lovely quote! It describes exactly how I feel about the ideas that float through my mind...some stay, some are just passing through but ALL change me in some way.

      Please come back any time!

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  4. beautiful.... love the gardens, would love to spend more time in my garden.... organised with a little chaos...lol.

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    1. Ahhh, Diane, yet another thing that we seem to have in common! I don't think I could handle a tradtional English garden but then again the Zen garden would almost be a bit too "sterile" for my thoughts...lol...maybe a happy medium somewhere in between?

      Thanks for stopping by and come back anytime!

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  5. Thanks for visiting my blog. I'm now a follower. :)

    Beautiful garden pictures and I love how you relate it to writing.

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    1. Thanks, Cherie, for stopping by! I appreciate your kind words...come back any time!

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  6. What a perfect post. Thanks for stopping by my blog as well. My garden is always kid friendly and like the B&B in progress, and always improving. :)

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    1. Thanks, Carol, for stopping by! Thank you for your kind words and come back any time!

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  7. Nice analogy, Donna! Wish I had a quiet garden to write in... Just realized that you are in my campaign group...welcome! See you around...

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  8. Thanks, Jarm, for stopping by! My REAL garden is overrun with weeds from neglect. My mental garden is blooming nicely, thank you! Hope you have a great week and come back any time!

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